CORNELIA    LINGERED    IN    THE    GARDEN. 


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Copyright,  1900 

by 
AMELIA  E.  BARR 


CONTENTS 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.    THE  HOME  OF  CORNELIA  MORAN I 

II.    THIS  is  THE  WAY  OF  LOVE 12 

III.  HYDE  AND  ARENTA 33 

IV.  THROWING  THINGS  INTO  CONFUSION 55 

V.    TURNING  OVER  A  NEW  LEAF 90 

VI.    AUNT  ANGELICA 113 

VII.    ARENTA 's  MARRIAGE 139 

VIII.     Two  PROPOSALS 160 

IX.     MISDIRECTED  LETTERS 185 

X.    LIFE  TIED  IN  A  KNOT ....  208 

XI.  WE  HAVE  DONE  WITH  TEARS  AND  TREASONS  .  .  241 

XII.     A  HEART  THAT  WAITS 271 

XIII.  THE  NEW  DAYS  COME 295 

XIV.  HUSH!     LOVE  is  HERE! 316 


M174936 


The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

CHAPTER  I 

THE    HOME    OF    CORNELIA    MORAN 

NEVER,  in  all  its  history,  was  the  proud  and 
opulent  city  of  New  York  more  glad  and  gay  than 
in  the  bright  spring  days  of  Seventeen-Hun- 
dred-and-Ninety-One.  It  had  put  out  of  sight 
every  trace  of  British  rule  and  occupancy,  all  its 
homes  had  been  restored  and  re-furnished,  and  its 
sacred  places  re-consecrated  and  adorned.  Like  a 
young  giant  ready  to  run  a  race,  it  stood  on  tiptoe, 
eager  for  adventure  and  discovery — sending  ships  to 
the  ends  of  the  world,  and  round  the  world,  on 
messages  of  commerce  and  friendship,  and  encour 
aging  with  applause  and  rewards  that  wonderful 
spirit  of  scientific  invention,  which  was  the  Epic  of 
the  youthful  nation.  The  skies  of  Italy  were  not 
bluer  than  the  skies  above  it ;  the  sunshine  of  Arca 
dia  not  brighter  or  more  genial.  It  was  a  city  of 
beautiful,  and  even  splendid,  homes ;  and  all  the 
length  and  breadth  of  its  streets  were  shaded  by 
trees,  in  whose  green  shadows  dwelt  and  walked 
some  of  the  greatest  men  of  the  century. 


2  The  Maid  of   Maiden   Lane 

These  gracious  days  of  Seventeen-Hundred-and- 
Ninety-One  were  also  the  early  days  of  the  French 
Revolution,  and  fugitives  from  the  French  court — 
princes  and  nobles,  statesmen  and  generals,  suffi 
cient  /or  a  new  Iliad,  loitered  about  the  pleasant 
places  of  Broadway  and  Wall  Street,  Broad  Street, 
and  Maiden  Lane.  They  were  received  with 
courtesy,  and  even  with  hospitality,  although 
America  at  that  date  almost  universally  sympathized 
with  the  French  Republicans,  whom  they  believed 
to  be  the  pioneers  of  political  freedom  on  the  aged 
side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  merchants  on  Exchange, 
the  Legislators  in  their  Council  Chambers,  the 
working  men  on  the  wharves  and  streets,  the  love 
liest  women  in  their  homes,  and  walks,  and  drives, 
alike  wore  the  red  cockade.  The  Marseillaise 
was  sung  with  The  Star  Spangled  Banner;  and  the 
notorious  Carmagnole  could  be  heard  every  hour  of 
the  day — on  stated  days,  officially,  at  the  Belvedere 
Club.  Love  for  France,  hatred  for  England,  was 
the  spirit  of  the  age  ;  it  effected  the  trend  of  com 
merce,  it  dominated  politics,  it  was  the  keynote  of 
conversation  wherever  men  and  women  congregated. 

Yet  the  most  pronounced  public  feeling  always 
carries  with  it  a  note  of  dissent,  and  it  was  just  at 
this  day  that  dissenting  opinion  began  to  make  it 
self  heard.  The  horrors  of  Avignon,  and  of  Paris, 
the  brutality  with  which  the  royal  family  had  been 
treated,  and  the  abolition  of  all  religious  ties  and 
duties,  had  many  and  bitter  opponents.  The 


The  Home  of  Cornelia  Moran         3 

clergy  generally  declared  that  "  men  had  better  be 
without  liberty,  than  without  God,"  and  a  promi 
nent  judge  had  ventured  to  say  publicly  that  "  Rev 
olution  was  a  dangerous  chief  justice." 

In  these  days  of  wonderful  hopes  and  fears  there 
was,  in  Maiden  Lane,  a  very  handsome  residence 
— an  old  house  even  in  the  days  of  Washington, 
for  Peter  Van  Clyffe  had  built  it  early  in  the  cen 
tury  as  a  bridal  present  to  his  daughter  when  she 
married  Philip  Moran,  a  lawyer  who  grew  to  emi 
nence  among  colonial  judges.  The  great  linden 
trees  which  shaded  the  garden  had  been  planted  by 
Van  Clyffe;  so  also  had  the  high  hedges  of  cut 
boxwood,  and  the  wonderful  sweet  briar,  which 
covered  the  porch  and  framed  all  the  windows  rill 
ing  the  open  rooms  in  summer  time  with  the  airs 
of  Paradise.  On  all  these  lovely  things  the  old 
Dutchman  had  stamped  his  memory,  so  that,  even 
to  the  third  generation,  he  was  remembered  with 
an  affection,  that  every  springtime  renewed. 

One  afternoon  in  April,  1791,  two  men  were 
standing  talking  opposite  to  the  entrance  gates  of 
this  pleasant  place.  They  were  Captain  Joris  Van 
Heemskirk,  a  member  of  the  Congress  then  sitting 
in  Federal  Hall,  Broad  Street,  and  Jacobus  Van 
Ariens,  a  wealthy  citizen,  and  a  deacon  in  the 
Dutch  Church.  Van  Heemskirk  had  helped  to 
free  his  own  country  and  was  now  eager  to  force 
the  centuries  and  abolish  all  monarchies.  Con 
sequently,  he  believed  in  France ;  the  tragedies  she 


4  The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

had  been  enacting  in  the  holy  name  of  Liberty, 
though  they  had  saddened,  had,  hitherto,  not  dis 
couraged  him.  He  only  pitied  the  more  men  who 
were  trying  to  work  out  their  social  salvation, 
without  faith  in  either  God  or  man.  But  the  news 
received  that  morning  had  almost  killed  his  hopes 
for  the  spread  of  republican  ideas  in  Europe. 

"  Van  Ariens,"  he  said  warmly,  "  this  treatment 
of  King  Louis  and  his  family  is  hardly  to  be  be 
lieved.  It  is  too  much,  and  too  far.  If  King 
George  had  been  our  prisoner  we  should  have  be 
haved  towards  him  with  humanity.  After  this,  no 
one  can  foresee  what  may  happen  in  France." 

"  That  is  the  truth,  my  friend,"  answered  Van 
Ariens.  "  The  good  Domine  thinks  that  any  one 
who  can  do  so  might  also  understand  the  Revela 
tions.  The  French  have  gone  mad.  They  are 
tigers,  sir,  and  I  care  not  whether  tigers  walk  on 
four  feet  or  on  two.  We  won  our  freedom  without 
massacres." 

u  We  had  Washington  and  Franklin,  and  other 
good  and  wise  leaders  who  feared  God  and  loved 
men." 

"  So  I  said  to  the  Count  de  Moustier  but  one 
hour  ago.  But  I  did  not  speak  to  him  of  the  Al 
mighty,  because  he  is  an  atheist.  Yet  if  we  were 
prudent  and  merciful  it  was  because  we  are  religious. 
When  men  are  irreligious,  the  Lord  forsakes  them ; 
and  if  bloodshed  and  bankruptcy  follow  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at." 


The  Home  of  Cornelia  Moran          y 

44  That  is  true,  Van  Ariens  ;  and  it  is  also  the 
policy  of  England  to  let  France  destroy  her 
self." 

u  Well,  then,  if  France  likes  the  policy  of  Eng 
land,  it  is  her  own  affair.  But  I  am  angry  at 
France  ;  she  has  stabbed  Liberty  in  Europe  for  one 
thousand  years.  A  French  Republic  !  Bah  ! 
France  is  yet  fit  for  nothing  but  a  despotism.  I 
wish  the  Assembly  had  more  control " 

"  The  Assembly  ! "  cried  Van  Heemskirk 
scornfully.  "  I  wish  that  Catherine  of  Russia 
were  now  Queen  of  France  in  the  place  of  that 
poor  Marie  Antoinette.  Catherine  would  make 
Frenchmen  write  a  different  page  in  history.  As 
to  Paris,  I  think,  then,  the  devil  never  sowed  a 
million  crimes  in  more  fruitful  ground." 

"Look  now,  Captain,  I  am  but  a  tanner  and 
currier,  as  you  know,  but  I  have  had  experiences ; 
and  I  do  not  believe  in  the  future  of  a  people  who 
are  without  a  God  and  without  a  religion." 

"  Well,  so  it  is,  Van  Ariens.  I  will  now  be 
silent,  and  wait  for  the  echo ;  but  I  fear  that  God 
has  not  yet  said  '  Let  there  be  peace/  I  saw  you 
last  night  at  Mr.  Hamilton's  with  your  son  and 
daughter.  You  made  a  noble  entrance." 

"  Well,  then,  the  truth  is  the  truth.  My  Arenta 
is  worth  looking  at ;  and  as  for  Rem,  he  was  not 
made  in  a  day.  There  are  generations  of  Zealand 
sailors  behind  him  ;  and,  to  be  sure,  you  may  see 
the  ocean  in  his  grey  eyes  and  fresh  open  face. 


6  The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

God  is  good,  who  gives  us  boys  and  girls  to  sit  so 
near  our  hearts." 

"  And  such  a  fair,  free  city  for  a  home  !  "  said 
Van  Heemskirk  as  he  looked  up  and  down  the 
sunshiny  street.  New  York  is  not  perfect,  but  we 
love  her.  Right  or  wrong,  we  love  her ;  just  as 
we  love  our  moder,  and  our  little  children." 

"  That,  also,  is  what  the  Domine  says,"  an 
swered  Van  Ariens  j  u  and  yet,  he  likes  not  that 
New  York  favours  the  French  so  much.  When 
Liberty  has  no  God,  and  no  Sabbath  day,  and  no 
heaven,  and  no  hell,  the  Domine  is  not  in  favour 
of  Liberty.  He  is  uneasy  for  the  country,  and  for 
his  church  ;  and  if  he  could  take  his  whole  flock  to 
heaven  at  once,  that  would  please  him  most  of 
all." 

"  He  is  a  good  man.  With  you,  last  night,  was 
a  little  maid — a  great  beauty  I  thought  her — but  I 
knew  her  not.  Is  she  then  a  stranger  r  " 

"  A  stranger !  Come,  come  !  The  little  one 
is  a  very  child  of  New  York.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  Moran — Dr.  John,  as  we  all  call  him." 

"  Well,  look  now,  I  thought  in  her  face  there 
was  something  that  went  to  my  heart  and 
memory." 

"  And,  as  you  know,  that  is  his  house  across  the 
street  from  us,  and  it  was  his  father's  house,  and 
his  grandfather's  house ;  and  before  that,  the 
Morans  lived  in  Winckle  Street ;  and  before  that, 
in  the  Lady's  Valley ;  so,  then,  when  Van  Clyffe 


The  Home  of  Cornelia  Moran         7 

built  this  house  for  them,  they  only  came  back  to 
their  first  home.  Yes,  it  is  so.  The  Morans 
have  seen  the  birth  of  this  city.  Who,  then,  can 
be  less  of  a  stranger  in  it  than  the  little  beauty, 
Cornelia  ?  " 

"As  you  say,  Van  Artens." 

"  And  yet,  in  one  way,  she  is  a  stranger.  Such 
a  little  one  she  was,  when  the  coming  of  the 
English  sent  the  family  apart  and  away.  To  the 
army  went  the  Doctor,  and  there  he  stayed,  till  the 
war  was  over.  Mrs.  Moran  took  her  child,  and 
went  to  her  father's  home  in  Philadelphia.  When 
those  redcoats  went  away  forever  from  New  York, 
the  Morans  came  back  here,  but  the  little  girl  they 
left  in  the  school  at  Bethlehem,  where  those  good 
Moravian  Sisters  have  made  her  so  sweet  as  them 
selves  ;  so  pure  !  so  honest-hearted  !  so  clever  !  It 
was  only  last  month  she  came  back  to  New  York, 
and  few  people  have  seen  her ;  and  yet  this  is  the 
truth — she  is  the  sweetest  maid  in  Maiden  Lane ; 
though  up  this  side,  and  down  that  side,  are  some 
beauties — the  daughters  of  Peter  Sylvester ;  and  of 
Jacob  Beckley  ;  and  of  Claes  Vandolsom.  Oh, 
yes  !  and  many  others.  I  speak  not  of  my  Arenta. 
But  look  now  !  It  is  the  little  maid  herself,  that 
is  coming  down  the  street." 

"And  it  is  my  grandson  who  is  at  her  side. 
The  rascal !  He  ought  now  to  be  reading  his  law 
books  in  Mr.  Hamilton's  office.  But  what  will 
you  ?  The  race  of  young  men  with  old  heads  on 


8  The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

their  shoulders  is  not  yet  born — a  God's  mercy  it 
is  not !  " 

"  We  also  have  been  young,  Van  Heemskirk." 

"  I  forget  not,  my  friend.  My  Joris  sees  not 
me,  and  I  will  not  see  him."  Then  the  two  old 
men  were  silent,  but  their  eyes  were  fixed  on  the 
youth  and  maiden,  who  were  slowly  advancing 
towards  them  ;  the  sun's  westering  rays  making  a 
kind  of  glory  for  them  to  walk  in. 

She  might  have  stepped  out  of  the  folded  leaves 
of  a  rosebud,  so  lovely  was  her  face,  framed  in 
its  dark  curls,  and  shaded  by  a  gypsy  bonnet  of 
straw  tied  under  her  chin  with  primrose-coloured 
ribbons.  Her  dress  was  of  some  soft,  green  ma 
terial  j  and  she  carried  in  her  hand  a  bunch  of 
daffodils.  She  was  small,  but  exquisitely  formed, 
and  she  walked  with  fearlessness  and  distinction. 
Yet  there  was  around  her  an  angelic  gravity,  and 
that  indefinable  air  of  solitude,  which  she  had 
brought  from  innocent  studies  and  long  seclusion 
from  the  tumult  and  follies  of  life. 

Of  all  this  charming  womanhood  the  young  man 
at  her  side  was  profoundly  conscious.  He  was  the 
gallant  gentleman  of  his  day,  hardly  touching  the 
tips  of  her  fingers,  but  quite  ready  to  fall  on  his 
knees  before  her.  A  tall,  sunbrowned,  military- 
looking  young  man,  as  handsome  as  a  Greek  god, 
with  eyes  of  heroic  form ;  lustrous,  and  richly 
fringed  ;  and  a  beautiful  mouth,  at  once  sensitive 
and  seductive.  He  was  also  very  finely  dressed,  in 


The  Home  of  Cornelia  Moran         9 

the  best  and  highest  mode;  and  he  wore  his  sword 
as  if  it  were  a  part  of  himself.  It  was  no  more  in 
his  way  than  if  it  were  his  right  arm.  Indeed,  all 
his  movements  were  full  of  confidence  and  ease ; 
and  yet  it  was  the  vivacity,  vitality,  and  ready 
response  of  his  face  that  was  most  attractive. 

His  wonderful  eyes  were  bent  upon  the  maid  at 
his  side  ;  he  saw  no  other  earthly  thing.  With  a 
respectful  eagerness,  full  of  admiration,  he  talked 
to  her;  and  she  answered  his  words — whatever 
they  were — with  a  smile  that  might  have  moved 
mountains.  They  passed  the  two  old  men  with 
out  any  consciousness  of  their  presence,  and  Van 
Heemskirk  smiled,  and  then  sighed,  and  then  said 
softly  — 

"  So  much  youth,  and  beauty,  and  happiness  ! 
It  is  a  benediction  to  have  seen  it !  I  shall  not  re 
prove  Joris  at  this  time.  But  now  I  must  go  back 
to  Federal  Hall ;  the  question  of  the  Capital  makes 
me  very  anxious.  Every  man  of  standing  must 
feel  so." 

"  And  I  must  go  to  my  tan  pits,  for  it  is  the  eye 
of  the  master  that  makes  the  good  servant.  You 
will  vote  for  New  York,  Van  Heemskirk  ? — that 
is  a  question  I  need  not  to  ask  ? " 

"  Where  else  should  the  capital  of  our  nation 
be  ?  I  think  that  Philadelphia  has  great  presump 
tions  to  propose  herself  against  New  York  : — this 
beautiful  city  between  the  two  rivers,  with  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  at  her  feet !  " 


lo         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  You  say  what  is  true,  Van  Heemskirk.  God 
has  made  New  York  the  capital,  and  the  capital 
she  will  be  ;  and  no  man  can  prevent  it.  It  was 
only  yesterday  that  Senator  Greyson  from  Virginia 
told  me  that  the  Southern  States  are  against  Phila 
delphia.  She  is  very  troublesome  to  the  Southern 
States,  day  by  day  dogging  them  with  her  schemes 
for  emancipation.  It  is  the  way  to  make  us  un 
friends." 

"  I  think  this,  Van  Ariens  :  Philadelphia  may 
win  the  vote  at  this  time ;  she  has  the  numbers, 
and  she  has  '  persuasions  ' ;  but  look  you  !  New 
York  has  the  ships  and  the  commerce,  and  the  sea  will 
crown  ner /  '  The  harvest  of  the  rivers  is  her 
revenue ;  and  she  is  the  mart  of  nations.'  That 
is  what  Domine  Kunz  said  in  the  House  this 
morning,  and  you  may  find  the  words  in  the 
prophecy  of  Isaiah,  the  twenty-third  chapter." 

During  this  conversation  they  had  forgotten  all 
else,  and  when  their  eyes  turned  to  the  Moran 
house  the  vision  of  youth  and  beauty  had  dissolved. 
Van  Heemskirk's  grandson,  Lieutenant  Hyde, 
was  hastening  towards  Broadway  ;  and  the  lovely 
Cornelia  Moran  was  sauntering  up  the  garden  of 
her  home,  stooping  occasionally  to  examine  the 
pearl-powdered  auriculas  or  to  twine  around  its 
support  some  vine,  straggling  out  of  its  proper 
place. 

Then  Van  Ariens  hurried  down  to  his  tanning 
pits  in  the  swamp ;  and  Van  Heemskirk  went 


The  Home  of  Cornelia  Moran        1 1 

thoughtfully  to  Broad  Street;  walking  slowly,  with 
his  left  arm  laid  across  his  back,  and  his  broad, 
calm  countenance  beaming  with  that  triumph 
which  he  foresaw  for  the  city  he  loved.  When 
he  reached  Federal  Hall,  he  stood  a  minute  in  the 
doorway ;  and  with  inspired  eyes  looked  at  the 
splendid,  moving  picture ;  then  he  walked  proudly 
toward  the  Hall  of  Representatives,  saying  to  him 
self,  with  silent  exultation  as  he  went : 

"  The  Seat  of  Government  !  Let  who  will, 
have  it ;  New  York  is  the  Crowning  City.  Her 
merchants  shall  be  princes,  her  traffickers  the  hon 
ourable  of  the  earth  ;  the  harvest  of  her  rivers  shall 
be  her  royal  revenue,  and  the  marts  of  all  nations 
shall  be  in  her  streets." 


CHAPTER  II 

THIS    IS    THE    WAY    OF    LOVE 

CORNELIA  lingered  in  the  garden,  because  she 
had  suddenly,  and  as  yet  unconsciously,  entered 
into  that  tender  mystery,  so  common  and  so  sov 
ereign,  which  we  call  Love.  In  Hyde's  presence 
she  had  been  suffused  with  a  bewildering,  profound 
emotion,  which  had  fallen  on  her  as  the  gentle 
showers  fall,  to  make  the  flowers  of  spring.  A 
shy  happiness,  a  trembling  delightful  feeling  never 
known  before,  rilled  her  heart.  This  handsome 
youth,  whom  she  had  only  seen  twice,  and  in  the 
most  formal  manner,  affected  her  as  no  other  mor 
tal  had  ever  done.  She  was  a  little  afraid  ;  some 
thing,  she  knew  not  what,  of  mystery  and  danger 
and  delight,  was  between  them  ;  and  she  did  not 
feel  that  she  could  speak  of  it.  It  seemed,  indeed, 
as  if  she  would  need  a  special  language  to  do  so. 

"  I  have  met  him  but  twice,"  she  thought ; 
"  and  it  is  as  if  I  had  a  new,  strange,  exquisite  life. 
Ought  I  tell  my  mother  ?  But  how  can  I  ?  I 
have  no  words  to  explain — I  do  not  understand — I 
thought  it  would  break  my  heart  to  leave  the  good 
Sisters  and  my  studies,  and  the  days  so  calm  and 
holy ;  and  now — I  do  not  even  wish  to  go  back. 
12 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  13 

Sister  Langaard  told  me  it  would  be  so  if  I  let  the 

world  come  into  my  soul Alas  !  if  I  should 

be  growing  wicked  !  " 

The  thought  made  her  start ;  she  hastened  her 
steps  towards  the  large  entrance  door,  and  as  she 
approached  it  a  negro  in  a  fine  livery  of  blue  and 
white  threw  the  door  wide  open  for  her.  Answer 
ing  his  bow  with  a  kind  word,  she  turned  quickly 
out  of  the  hall,  into  a  parlour  full  of  sunshine.  A 
lady  sat  there  hemstitching  a  damask  napkin  ;  a 
lady  of  dainty  plainness,  with  a  face  full  of  graven 
experiences  and  mellowed  character.  Purity  was 
the  first,  and  the  last,  impression  she  gave.  And 
when  her  eyes  were  dropped  this  idea  was  empha 
sized  by  their  beautiful  lids;  for  nowhere  is  the 
flesh  so  divine  as  in  the  eyelids.  And  Ava 
Moran's  eyelids  were  full  of  holy  secrets;  they 
gave  the  impression  of  a  spiritual  background  which 
was  not  seen,  but  which  could  be  felt.  As  Corne 
lia  entered  she  looked  up  with  a  smile,  and  said,  as 
she  slightly  raised  her  work,  "  it  is  the  last  of  the 
dozen,  Cornelia." 

"  You  make  me  ashamed  of  my  idleness, 
mother.  Have  I  been  a  long  time  away  ?  " 

"  Longer  than  was  unnecessary,  I  think." 

u  I  went  to  Embree's  for  the  linen  thread,  and 
he  had  just  opened  some  English  gauzes  and  lute 
strings.  Mrs.  Willets  was  choosing  a  piece  for  a 
new  gown,  for  she  is  to  dine  with  the  President 
next  week,  and  she  was  so  polite  as  to  ask  my 


14          The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

opinion  about  the  goods.  Afterwards,  I  walked  to 
Wall  Street  with  her ;  and  coming  back  I  met,  on 
Broadway,  Lieutenant  Hyde — and  he  gave  me  these 
flowers — they  came  from  Prince's  nursery  gardens 
— and,  then,  he  walked  home  with  me.  Was  it 
wrong  ?  I  mean  was  it  polite — I  mean  the  proper 
thing  to  permit  ?  I  knew  not  how  to  prevent  it." 

u  How  often  have  you  met  Lieutenant  Hyde  ?  " 

"  I  met  him  for  the  first  time  last  night.  He 
was  at  the  Sylvesters',  and  I  danced  three  times 
with  him." 

"That  was  too  often." 

"  He  talked  with  father,  and  father  did  not 
oppose  my  dancing." 

"Your  father  thinks  of  nothing,  now,  but  the 
Capital  question.  I  dare  say,  after  he  had  asked 
Lieutenant  Hyde  how  he  felt  on  that  subject  he 
never  thought  of  the  young  man  again.  And  pray 
what  did  Lieutenant  Hyde  say  to  you  this  after 
noon  ?  " 

"  He  gave  me  the  flowers,  and  he  told  me  about  a 
beautiful  opera,  of  which  I  have  never  before  heard. 
It  is  called  Figaro.  He  says,  in  Europe,  nothing  is 
played,  or  sung,  or  whistled,  but — Figaro ;  that  no 
body  goes  to  any  opera  but — Figaro ;  and  that  I  do 
not  know  the  most  charming  music  in  the  world  if 
I  do  not  know — Figaro.  He  asked  permission  to 
bring  me  some  of  the  airs  to-night,  and  I  said  some 
civilities.  I  think  they  meant  'Yes/  Did  I  do 
wrong,  mother  ? " 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  15 

"  I  will  say  '  no,'  my  dear ;  as  you  have  given  the 
invitation.  But  to  prevent  an  appearance  of  too 
exclusive  intimacy,  write  to  Arenta,  and  ask  her 
and  Rem  to  take  tea  with  us.  Balthazar  will  carry 
the  note  at  once." 

"  Mother,  Arenta  has  bought  a  blue  lutestring. 
Shall  I  not  also  have  a  new  gown  /  The  gauzes 
are  very  sweet  and  genteel,  and  I  think  Mrs.  Jay 
will  not  forget  to  ask  me  to  her  dance  next  week. 
Mr.  Jefferson  is  sure  to  be  there,  and  I  wish  to 
walk  a  minuet  with  him." 

u  Your  father  does  not  approve  of  Mr.  Jefferson. 
He  has  not  spoken  to  him  since  his  return  from 
France.  He  goes  too  far — in  bis  words" 

"  But  all  the  ladies  of  distinction  are  proud  to  be 
seen  in  his  company  ;  and  pray  what  is  there  against 
him  ?  " 

"  Only  his  politics,  Cornelia.  I  think  New 
York  has  gone  mad  on  that  subject.  Madame 
Barens  will  not  speak  to  her  son,  because  he  is  a 
Federalist ;  and  Madame  Lefferts  will  not  speak  to 
her  son,  because  he  is  not  a  Federalist.  Mr.  Jeffer 
son,  also,  is  thought  to  favour  Philadelphia  for  the 
capital ;  and  your  father  is  as  hot  on  this  subject  as 
he  was  on  the  Constitution.  My  dear,  you  will 
find  that  society  is  torn  in  two  by  politics." 

"  But  women  have  nothing  to  do  with  politics." 

"They  have  everything  to  do  with  politics. 
They  always  have  had.  You  are  not  now  in  a 
Moravian  school,  Cornelia ;  and  Bethlehem  is  not 


16         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

New  York.     The  two  places  look  at  life  from  dif 
ferent  standpoints." 

"  Then,  as  I  am  to  live  in  New  York,  why  was 
I  sent  to  Bethlehem  ?  " 

u  You  were  sent  to  Bethlehem  to  learn  how  to 
live  in  New  York, — or  in  any  other  place.  Where 
have  you  seen  Mr.  Jefferson  ?  " 

"  I  saw  him  this  afternoon,  in  Cedar  Street.  He 
wore  his  red  coat  and  breeches;  and  it  was  then  I 
formed  the  audacious  intention  of  dancing  with 
him.  I  told  Mrs.  Willets  of  it;  and  she  said,  '  Mr. 
Jefferson  carried  the  Declaration  on  his  shoulders, 
and  would  not  dare  to  bow ; '  and  then  with  such  a 
queer  little  laugh  she  asked  me  c  if  his  red  breeches 
did  not  make  me  think  of  the  guillotine  ? '  I  do 
not  think  Mrs.  Willets  likes  Mr.  Jefferson  very 
much ;  but,  all  the  same,  I  wish  to  dance  once 
with  him.  I  think  it  will  be  something  to  talk 
about  when  I  am  an  old  woman." 

"  My  dear  one,  that  is  so  far  off.  Go  now,  and 
write  to  Arenta.  Young  Mr.  Hyde  and  Figaro 
will  doubtless  bring  her  here." 

"  I  hope  so ;  for  Arenta  has  an  agreeableness 
that  fits  every  occasion."  She  had  been  folding 
up,  with  deliberate  neatness,  the  strings  of  her  bon 
net,  as  she  talked,  and  she  rose  with  these  words 
and  went  out  of  the  parlour;  but  she  went  slowly, 
with  a  kind  of  hesitation,  as  if  something  had  been 
left  unsaid. 

About  six  o'clock  Arenta  Van  Ariens  made  a 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  17 

personal  response  to  her  friend's  message.  She  was 
all  excitement  and  expectation.  "  What  a  delight 
ful  surprise  !  "  she  cried.  "  To-day  has  been  a  day 
to  be  praised.  It  has  ticked  itself  away  to  wonders 
and  astonishments.  Who  do  you  think  called  on 
me  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Tell  me  plainly,  Arenta.  I  never  could  guess 
for  an  answer." 

"  No  less  a  person  than  Madame  Kippon.  Ger 
trude  Kippon  is  going  to  be  married  !  She  is  going 
to  marry  a  French  count !  And  madame  is  beside 
herself  with  the  great  alliance." 

"  I  heard  my  father  say  that  Madame  Kippon 
had  '  the  French  disease '  in  a  dangerous  form." 

"  Indeed,  that  is  certain.  She  has  put  the  Sab 
bath  day  out  of  her  calendar;  and  her  daughter's 
marriage  is  to  be  a  legal  one  only.  I  wonder  what 
good  Dr.  Kunz  will  say  to  that !  As  for  me,  I 
lost  all  patience  with  madame's  rigmarole  of  phi 
losophies — for  I  am  not  inclined  to  philosophy — 
and  indeed  I  had  some  difficulty  to  keep  my  temper; 
you  know  that  it  is  occasionally  quite  unmanage 
able." 

Cornelia  smiled  understandingly,  and  answered 
with  a  smile,  "  I  hope,  however,  that  you  did  not 
put  her  to  death,  Arenta." 

"  I  have,  at  least,  buried  her,  as  far  as  I  am  con 
cerned.  And  my  father  says  I  am  not  to  go  to  the 
marriage;  that  I  am  not  even  to  drink  a  cup  of  tea 
with  her  again.  If  my  father  had  been  at  home — 


l8         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

or  even  Rem — she  would  not  have  left  our  house 
with  all  her  colours  flying ;  but  I  am  good-natured, 
I  have  no  tongue  worth  speaking  of." 

u  Come,  come,  Arenta !  I  shall  be  indeed  as 
tonished  if  you  did  not  say  one  or  two  provoking 
words." 

"  I  said  only  three,  Cornelia.  When  madame 
finally  declared — c  she  really  must  go  home/  I  did 
answer,  as  sweetly  as  possible,  '  Thank  you,  ma- 
dame  ! '  That  was  something  I  could  say  with 
becoming  politeness." 

Cornelia  was  tying  the  scarlet  ribbon  which  held 
back  her  flowing  hair,  but  she  turned  and  looked  at 
Arenta,  and  asked,  "  Did  madame  boast  any  after 
wards  ?  " 

"  No ;  she  went  away  very  modestly,  and  I  was 
not  sorry  to  see  the  angry  surprise  on  her  face. 
Gertrude  Kippon  a  countess  !  Only  imagine  it ! 
Well,  then,  I  have  no  doubt  the  Frenchman  will 
make  of  Gertrude — whatever  can  be  made  of 
her." 

"  Our  drawing-rooms,  and  even  our  streets,  are 
full  of  titles,"  said  Cornelia;  "I  think  it  is  a  dis 
tinction  to  be  plain  master  and  mistress." 

"  That  is  the  truth  ;  even  this  handsome  dandy, 
Joris  Hyde,  is  a  lieutenant." 

"  He  was  in  the  field  two  years.  He  told  me  so 
this  afternoon.  I  dare  say,  he  has  earned  his  title, 
even  if  he  is  a  lieutenant." 

"  Don't  be  so  highty-tighty,  Cornelia.      I  have 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  19 

no  objections  to  military  titles.  They  mean  some 
thing  ;  for  they  at  least  imply,  that  a  man  is  willing 
to  fight  if  his  country  will  find  him  a  quarrel  to 
fight  in.  In  fact,  I  rather  lean  to  official  titles  of 
every  kind.'* 

"  I  have  not  thought  of  them  at  all." 
"  But  I  have.  They  affect  me  like  the  feathers 
in  a  cock's  tail ;  of  course  the  bird  would  be  as 
good  without  them,  but  fancy  him  !  "  and  Arenta 
laughed  mirthfully  at  her  supposition.  "  As  for 
women,"  she  continued,  "  lady,  or  countess,  or 
Marquise,  what  an  air  it  gives !  It  finishes  a 
woman  like  a  lace  ruff  round  her  neck.  Every 
woman  ought  to  have  a  title — I  mean  every  woman 
of  respectability.  I  have  a  fancy  to  be  a  marquise, 
and  Aunt  Jacobus  says  I  look  Frenchy  enough.  I 
have  heard  that  there  is  a  title  in  the  Hyde  family. 
I  must  ask  Aunt  Jacobus.  She  knows  everything 
about  everybody.  Lieutenant  Hyde  !  I  do  won 
der  what  he  is  coming  for  !  " 

The  words  dropped  slowly,  one  by  one,  from 
her  lips  ;  and  with  a  kind  of  fateful  import ;  but 
neither  of  the  girls  divined  the  significance  of  the 
inquiry.  Both  were  too  intent  on  those  last  little 
touches  to  the  toilet,  which  make  its  effectiveness, 
to  take  into  consideration  reflections  without  form  ; 
and  probably,  at  that  time,  without  personal  inten 
tion. 

Then  Arenta,  having  arranged  her  ringlets,  tied 
her  sash,  and  her  sandals,  began  to  talk  of  her  own 


2O         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

affairs ;  for  she  was  a  young  lady  who  found  it  im 
possible  to  be  sufficient  for  herself.  There  had 
been  trouble  with  the  slaves  in  the  Van  Ariens' 
household,  and  she  told  Cornelia  every  particular. 
Also,  she  had  very  near  had  an  offer  of  marriage 
from  George  Van  Berckel ;  and  she  went  into  ex 
planations  about  her  diplomacies  in  avoiding  it. 

u  Poor  George  !  "  she  sighed,  and  then,  looking 
up,  was  a  trifle  dismayed  at  the  expression  upon 
Cornelia's  face.  For  Cornelia  was  as  reticent,  as 
Arenta  was  garrulous  ;  and  the  girls  were  incom 
prehensible  to  each  other  in  their  deepest  natures, 
though,  superficially,  they  were  much  on  the  same 
plane,  and  really  thought  themselves  to  be  distinctly 
sympathetic  friends. 

u  Why  do  you  look  so  strangely  at  me,  Cor 
nelia  ? "  asked  Arenta.  "  Am  I  not  properly 
dressed  ? " 

"  You  are  perfectly  dressed,  Arenta.  Women 
as  fair  as  you  are,  know  instinctively  how  to  dress.'* 
And  then  Arenta  stood  up  before  the  mirror  and 
put  her  hand  upon  Cornelia's  shoulder,  and  they 
both  looked  at  the  reflection  in  it. 

A  very  pretty  reflection  it  was  ! — a  slender  girl 
with  a  round,  fair  face,  and  a  long,  white  throat,  and 
sloping  shoulders.  Her  pale  brown  hair  fell  in 
ripples  and  curls  around  her  until  they  touched  a 
robe  of  heavenly  blue,  and  half  hid  a  singular  neck 
lace  of  large  pearls  : — pearls  taken  from  some 
Spanish  ship  and  strung  in  old  Zierikzee,  and  worn 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  21 

for  centuries  by  the  maids  and  dames  of  the  house 
of  Van  Ariens. 

"  It  is  the  necklace  !  "  said  Cornelia  after  a  pause. 
"  It  is  the  pearl  necklace,  which  gives  you  such  an 
air  of  mystery  and  romance,  and  changes  you  from 
an  everyday  maiden  into  an  old-time  princess. " 

"  No  doubt,  it  is  the  necklace, "  answered 
Arenta.  "  It  is  my  Aunt  Angelica's,  but  she  per 
mits  me  to  wear  it.  When  she  was  young,  she 
called  every  pearl  after  one  of  her  lovers ;  and  she 
had  a  lover  for  every  pearl.  She  was  near  to  forty 
years  old  when  she  married  ;  and  she  had  many 
lovers,  even  then." 

u  It  would  have  been  better  if  she  had  married 
before  she  was  near  to  forty  years  old — that  is,  if 
she  had  taken  a  good  husband." 

"  Perhaps  that ;  but  good  husbands  come  not  on 
every  day  in  the  week.  I  have  three  beads  named 
already — one  for  George  Van  Berckel — one  for 
Fred  De  Lancey — and  one  for  Willie  Nichols. 
What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"  I  think,  if  you  copy  your  Aunt  Angelica,  you 
will  not  marry  any  of  your  lovers  till  you  are  forty 
years  old.  Come,  let  us  go  downstairs." 

She  spoke  a  little  peremptorily — indeed,  she  was 
in  the  habit,  quite  unconsciously  of  using  this  tone 
with  her  companion,  consequently  it  was  not  noticed 
by  her.  And  it  was  further  remarkable,  that  the 
girls  did  not  walk  down  the  broad  stairs  together, 
but  Cornelia  went  first,  and  Arenta  followed  her. 


22         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

There  was  no  intention  or  consideration  in  this 
procedure  ;  it  was  the  natural  expression  of  under 
lying  qualities,  as  yet  not  realized. 

Cornelia's  self-contained,  independent  nature 
was  further  revealed  by  the  erect  dignity  of  her 
carriage  down  the  centre  of  the  stairway,  one  hand 
slightly  lifting  her  silk  robe,  the  other  laid  against 
the  daffodils  at  her  breast.  Her  face  was  happy 
and  serene,  her  steps  light,  and  without  hesitation 
or  hurry.  Arenta  was  a  little  behind  her  friend. 
She  stepped  idly  and  irresolutely,  with  one  hand 
slipping  along  the  baluster,  and  the  other  restlessly 
busy  with  her  curls,  her  ribbons,  the  lace  that  par 
tially  hid  her  bosom,  and  the  pearls  that  made  a 
moonlight  radiance  on  her  snowy  throat.  At  the 
foot  of  the  staircase  Cornelia  had  to  wait  for  her, 
and  they  went  into  the  parlour  together. 

Doctor  Moran,  Rem  Van  Ariens,  and  Lieuten 
ant  Hyde  were  present.  The  girls  had  a  momen 
tary  glance  at  the  latter  ere  he  assumed  the  manner 
he  thought  suitable  for  youth  and  beauty.  He  was 
talking  seriously  to  the  Doctor  and  playing  with  an 
ivory  paper  knife  as  he  did  so,  but  whatever  remark 
he  was  making  he  cut  it  in  two,  and  stood  up, 
pleased  and  expectant,  to  receive  Beauty  so  fresh 
and  so  conspicuous. 

He  was  handsomely  dressed  in  a  dark-blue  vel 
vet  coat,  silver-laced,  a  long  white  satin  vest  and 
black  satin  breeches.  His  hair  was  thrown  back 
wards  and  tied  with  the  customary  black  ribbon,  and 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  23 

his  linen  and  laces  were  of  the  finest  quality.  He 
met  Cornelia  as  he  might  have  met  a  princess  -, 
and  he  flashed  into  Arenta's  eyes  a  glance  of  ad 
miration  which  turned  her  senses  upside  down,  and 
made  her  feel,  for  a  moment  or  two,  as  if  she 
could  hardly  breathe. 

Upon  Arenta's  brother  he  had  not  produced  a 
pleasant  impression.  Without  intention,  he  had 
treated  young  Van  Ariens  with  that  negative  po 
liteness  which  dashes  a  sensitive  man  and  makes 
him  resentfully  conscious  that  he  has  been  rendered 
incapable  of  doing  himself  justice.  And  Rem 
could  neither  define  the  sense  of  humiliation  he 
felt,  nor  yet  ruffle  the  courteous  urbanity  of  Hyde ; 
though  he  tried  in  various  ways  to  introduce  some 
conversation  which  would  afford  him  the  pleasure 
of  contradiction.  Equally  he  failed  to  consider 
that  his  barely  veiled  antagonism  compelled  from 
the  Doctor,  and  even  from  Cornelia  and  Arenta, 
attentions  he  might  not  otherwise  have  received. 
The  Doctor  was  indeed  much  annoyed  that  Rem 
did  not  better  respect  the  position  of  guest ;  while 
Mrs.  Moran  was  keenly  sensitive  to  the  false  note 
in  the  evening's  harmony,  and  anxious  to  atone  for 
it  by  many  little  extra  courtesies.  So  Hyde  easily 
became  the  hero  of  the  hour ;  he  was  permitted  to 
teach  the  girls  the  charming  old-world  step  of  the 
Pas  de  £hiatre,  and  afterwards  to  sing  with  them 
merry  airs  from  Figaro,  and  sentimental  airs  from 
Lodoiska,  and  to  make  Rem's  heart  burn  with  an- 


24          The  Maid  of    Maiden  Lane 

ger  at  the  expression  he  threw  into  the  famous 
ballad  "  My  Heart  and  Lute  "  which  the  trio  sang 
twice  over  with  great  feeling. 

Fortunately,  some  of  Doctor  Moran's  neighbours 
called  early  in  the  evening.  Then  whist  parties 
were  formed ;  and  while  the  tables  were  being  ar 
ranged  Cornelia  found  an  opportunity  to  reason 
with  Rem.  "  I  never  could  have  believed  you 
would  behave  so  unlike  yourself,"  she  said ;  and 
Rem  answered  bluntly  — 

u  That  Englishman  has  insulted  me  ever  since 
he  came  into  the  room." 

"  He  is  not  an  Englishman,"  said  Cornelia. 

"  His  father  is  an  Englishman,  and  the  man 
himself  was  born  in  England.  The  way  he  looks 
at  me,  the  way  he  speaks  to  me,  is  insulting." 

UI  have  seen  nothing  but  courtesy  to  you, 
Rem." 

u  You  have  not  the  key  to  his  impertinences. 
To-morrow,  I  will  tell  you  something  about  Lieu 
tenant  Hyde." 

"  I  shall  not  permit  you  to  talk  evil  of  him.  I 
have  no  wish  to  hear  ill  reports  about  my  acquaint 
ances.  Their  behaviour  is  their  own  affair;  at 
any  rate,  it  is  not  mine.  Be  good-tempered,  Rem ; 
you  are  to  be  my  partner,  and  we  must  win  in 
every  game." 

But  though  Cornelia  was  all  sweetness  and  gra- 
ciousness ;  though  Rem  played  well,  and  Lieuten 
ant  Hyde  played  badly ;  though  Rem  had  the  sat- 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  25 

isfaction  of  watching  Hyde  depart  in  his  chair, 
while  he  stood  with  a  confident  friendship  by  Cor 
nelia's  side,  he  was  not  satisfied.  There  was  an 
air  of  weariness  and  constraint  in  the  room,  and 
the  little  stir  of  departing  visitors  did  not  hide  it. 
Doctor  Moran  had  been  at  an  unusual  social  ten 
sion  ;  he  was  tired,  and  not  pleased  at  Rem  for 
keeping  him  on  the  watch.  Cornelia  was  silent. 
Rem  then  approached  his  sister  and  said,  "  it  is 
time  to  go  home."  Arenta  looked  at  her  friend  ; 
she  expected  to  be  asked  to  remain,  and  she  was 
offended  when  Cornelia  did  not  give  her  the  invi 
tation. 

On  the  contrary,  Cornelia  went  with  her  for  her 
cloak  and  bonnet,  and  said  not  a  word  as  they  trod 
the  long  stairway  but  "  Oh  dear  !  How  warm  the 
evening  is  !  " 

"  I  expected  you  would  ask  me  to  stay  with 
you,  Cornelia."  Arenta  was  tying  her  bonnet 
strings  as  she  made  this  remark,  and  her  fingers 
trembled,  and  her  voice  was  full  of  hurt  feeling. 

"  Rem  behaved  so  badly,  Arenta." 

"  I  think  that  is  not  so.  Did  I  also  behave 
badly  ?  " 

"  You  were  charming  every  moment  of  the 
evening  ;  but  Rem  was  on  the  point  of  quarrelling 
with  Lieutenant  Hyde.  You  must  have  seen  it. 
In  my  father's  house,  this  was  not  proper." 

"  I  never  saw  Rem  behave  badly  in  my  life. 
Suppose  he  does  quarrel  with  that  dandy  English- 


26         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

man,  Rem  would  not  get  the  worst  of  it.  I  have 
no  fear  for  my  brother  Rem  !  No,  indeed  !  " 

41  Bulk  does  not  stand  for  much  in  a  sword 
game." 

"  Do  you  mean  they  might  fight  a  duel  ? " 

"  I  think  it  is  best  for  you  to  go  home  with 
Rem.  Otherwise,  he  might,  in  his  present  temper, 
find  himself  near  Becker's ;  and  if  a  man  is  quar 
relsome  he  may  always  get  principals  and  seconds 
there.  You  have  told  me  this  yourself.  In  the 
morning  Rem  will,  I  hope,  be  reasonable." 

"  I  thought  you  and  I  would  talk  things  over 
to-night.  I  like  to  talk  over  a  new  pleasure." 

"  Dear  Arenta,  we  shall  have  so  much  more  time, 
to-morrow.  Come  to-morrow." 

But  Arenta  was  not  pleased.  She  left  her  friend 
with  an  air  of  repressed  injury,  and  afterwards 
made  little  remarks  about  Cornelia  to  her  brother, 
which  exactly  fitted  his  sense  of  wounded  pride. 
Indeed,  they  stood  a  few  minutes  in  the  Van 
Ariens'  parlour  to  exchange  their  opinions  still  fur 
ther— 

"  I  think  Cornelia  was  jealous  of  me,  Rem. 
That,  in  plain  Dutch,  is  what  it  all  means.  Does 
she  imagine  that  I  desire  the  attentions  of  a  man 
who  is  neither  an  American  nor  a  Dutchman  ?  I 
do  not.  I  speak  the  truth  always,  for  I  love  the 
truth." 

"  Cornelia  does  desire  them  ;  I  think  that — and 
it  makes  me  wretched." 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  27 

"  Oh,  indeed,  it  is  plain  to  see  that  she  has  fallen 
in  love  with  that  black-eyed  man  of  many  songs 
and  dances.  Well,  then,  we  must  admit  that  he 
danced  to  perfection.  One  may  dislike  the 
creature,  and  yet  tell  the  truth." 

"  Do  you  truly  believe  that  Cornelia  is  in  love 
with  him  ?  " 

"  Rem,  there  are  things  a  woman  observes. 
Cornelia  is  changed  to-night.  She  did  not  wish  me 
to  stay  and  talk  about  this  man  Hyde — she  pre 
ferred  thinking  about  him — such  reveries  are  sus 
picious.  I  have  felt  the  symptom.  But,  however, 
I  may  be  wrong.  Perhaps  Cornelia  was  angry  at 

Hyde,  and  anxious  about  you Do  you  think 

that  ?  " 

Rem  would  not  admit  any  such  explanation  ; 
and,  indeed,  Arenta  only  made  such  suppositions  to 
render  more  poignant  those  entirely  contrary. 

"  Ever  since  she  was  a  little  girl,  twelve,  eleven 
years  old,  I  have  loved  her,"  said  Rem ;  u  and  she 
knows  it." 

"  She  knows  it ;  that  is  so.  When  I  was  at 
Bethlehem,  I  read  her  all  your  letters ;  and  many  a 
time  you  spoke  in  them  of  her  as  your  c  little  wife.' 
To  be  sure,  it  was  a  joke;  but  she  understood  that 
you,  at  least,  put  your  heart  in  it.  Girls  do  not 
need  to  have  such  things  explained.  Come,  come, 
we  must  go  to  our  rooms ;  for  that  is  our  father  I 
hear  moving  about.  In  a  few  minutes  he  will  be 
angry,  and  then " 


28         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

She  did  not  finish  the  sentence  ;  there  was  no 
necessity ;  Rem  knew  what  unpleasantness  the 
threat  implied,  and  he  slipped  off  his  shoes  and 
stole  quietly  upstairs.  Arenta  was  not  disinclined 
to  a  few  words  if  her  father  wished  them ;  so  she 
did  not  hurry,  though  the  great  Flemish  clock  on 
the  stair-landing  chimed  eleven  as  she  entered  her 
room.  It  was  an  extraordinarily  late  hour,  but 
she  only  smiled,  as  she  struck  her  pretty  fore 
fingers  together  in  time  with  it.  She  was  not  dis 
posed  to  curtail  the  day ;  it  was  her  method, 
always,  to  take  the  full  flavour  of  every  event  that 
was  not  disagreeable. 

"  And,  after  all,"  she  mused,  "  the  evening  was 
a  possibility.  It  was  a  door  on  the  latch — I  may 
push  it  open  and  go  in — who  can  tell  ?  I  saw  how 
amazed  he  was  at  my  beauty  when  I  first  entered 
the  parlour — and  he  is  but  a  man — and  a  young 
man  who  likes  his  own  way — so  much  is  evident." 
She  was  meanwhile  unclasping  her  pearl  necklace, 
and  at  this  point  she  held  it  in  her  hands  taking  the 
fourth  bead  between  her  fingers,  and  smiled  specu- 
latively. 

Then  she  heard  her  brother  moving  about  the 
floor  of  the  room  above  her,  and  a  shadow  darkened 
her  face.  She  had  strong  family  affections,  and 
she  was  angry  that  Rem  should  be  troubled  by  any 
man  or  woman,  living : 

"  I  have  always  thought  Cornelia  a  very  saint," 
she  muttered  ;  "  but  Love  is  the  great  revealer.  I 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  29 

wonder  if  she  is  in  love — to  tell  the  truth,  she  was 
past  finding  out.  I  cannot  say  that  I  saw  the 
least  sign  of  it — and  between  me  and  myself,  Rem 
was  unreasonable  ;  however,  I  am  not  pleased  that 
Rem  felt  himself  to  be  badly  used.'* 

It  was  to  this  touch  of  resentment  in  her  drifting 
thoughts  that  she  performed  her  last  duties.  She 
did  not  hurry  them.  u  Very  soon  there  will  be  the 
noise  of  chairmen  and  carriages  to  disturb  me,"  she 
thought ;  "  and  I  may  as  well  think  a  little,  and  put 
my  things  away." 

So  she  folded  each  dainty  blue  morocco  slipper 
in  its  separate  piece  of  fine  paper,  and  straightened 
out  her  ribbons,  and  wrapped  her  pale  blue  robe  in 
its  holland  covering,  and  put  every  comb  and  pin 
in  its  proper  place,  all  the  time  treading  as  softly  as 
a  mouse.  And  by  and  by  the  street  was  dark  and 
still,  and  her  room  in  the  most  perfect  order. 
These  things  gave  her  the  comfort  of  a  good  con 
science  ;  and  she  said  her  prayers,  and  fell  calmly 
asleep,  to  the  flattering  thought,  "I  would  not 
much  wonder  if,  at  this  moment,  Lieutenant  Hyde 
is  thinking  about  me." 

In  reality,  Lieutenant  Hyde  was  at  that  moment 
in  the  Belvedere  Club,  singing  the  Marseillaise^  and 
listening  to  a  very  inflammatory  speech  from  the 
French  Minister.  But  a  couple  of  hours  later, 
Arenta's  "  wonder  "  would  have  touched  the  truth. 
He  was  then  alone,  and  very  ill  satisfied ;  for,  after 
some  restless  reflections,  he  said  impatiently  — 


30         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  I  have  again  made  a  fool  of  myself.  I  have 
now  all  kinds  of  unpleasant  feelings  ;  and  when  I 
left  that  good  Doctor's  house  I  was  well  satisfied. 
His  daughter  is  an  angel.  I  praise  myself  for  find 
ing  that  out.  She  made  me  believe  in  all  good 
ness  ;  yes,  even  in  patriotism  !  I,  that  have  seen  it 
sold  a  dozen  times  !  Oh,  how  divinely  shy  and 
proud  she  is  !  I  could  not  get  her  one  step  beyond 
the  first  civilities ;  even  my  eyes  failed  me  to-night 
— her  calm  glances  killed  their  fire — and  she  barely 
touched  my  hand,  though  I  offered  it  with  a  re 
spectful  ardour,  she  must  have  understood  :  " — 
then  he  looked  admiringly  at  the  long,  white  hand 
and  thoroughbred  wrist  which  lay  idly  on  the 
velvet  cushion  of  his  armchair;  an  exquisite  ruffle 
of  lace  just  touched  it,  and  his  eyes  wandered  from 
the  rufHe  to  the  velvet  and  silver  embroidery  of  his 
coat;  and  the  delicate  laced  lawn  of  his  cravat. 

"  I  have  the  reputation  of  beauty,"  he  con 
tinued  ;  "  and  I  am  perfectly  dressed,  and  yet — 
yet — this  little  Beauty  seemed  unconscious  of  my 
advantages.  But  I  cannot  accept  failure  in  this 
case.  The  girl  is  unparagoned.  I  am  in  love  with 
her ;  sincerely  in  love.  She  fills  my  thoughts,  and 
has  done  so,  ever  since  I  first  saw  her.  It  is  a 
pure  delight  to  think  of  her." 

Then  he  rose,  threw  off  his  velvet  and  lace,  and 
designedly  let  his  thoughts  turn  to  Arenta.  u  She 
is  pretty  beyond  all  prettiness,"  he  said  softly  as 
he  moved  about.  "  She  dances  well,  talks  from 


This  is  the  Way  of  Love  31 

hand  to  mouth,  and  she  gave  me  one  sweet  glance ; 
and  I  think  if  she  has  gone  so  far — she  might  go 
further."  At  this  reflection  he  smiled  again,  and 
lifting  a  decanter  slowly  poured  into  a  goblet  some 
amber-coloured  sherry  ;  saying  — 

41 1  dare  not  yet  drink  to  the  unapproachable 
Cornelia ;  but  I  may  at  least  pour  the  wine  to  the 
blue-eyed  goddess,  with  the  pearl  necklace,  and  the 
golden  hair-,  "  and  as  he  lifted  the  glass,  a  memory 
from  some  past  mirthful  hour  came  into  his  re 
membrance  ;  and  he  began  to  hum  a  strain  of  the 
song  it  brought  to  his  mind  — 

"  Let  the  toast  pass. 

Drink  to  the  lass 
I'll  warrant,  she'll  prove  an  excuse  for  the  glass." 

It  was  remarkable  that  he  did  not  take  Arenta's 
brother  into  his  speculations  at  all,  and  yet  Rem 
Van  Ariens  was  at  that  very  hour  chafing  restlessly 
and  sleeplessly  under  insults  he  conceived  himself 
to  have  received,  in  such  fashion  and  under  such 
circumstances  as  made  reprisal  impossible.  In 
reality,  however,  Van  Ariens  had  not  been  inten 
tionally  wounded  by  Hyde.  The  situation  was 
the  natural  result  of  incipient  jealousy  and  sensi 
tive  pride  on  Rem's  part ;  and  of  that  calm  in 
difference  and  complaisance  on  Hyde's  part,  which 
appeared  tacitly  to  assert  its  own  superiority  and 
expect  its  recognition  as  a  matter  of  course.  In 
deed,  at  their  introduction,  Rem  had  affected  Hyde 
rather  pleasantly ;  and  when  the  young  Dutch 


32         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

gentleman's  opposition  became  evident,  Hyde  had 
simply  ignored  it.  For  as  yet  the  thought  of  Rem 
as  a  rival  had  not  entered  his  mind. 

But  this  is  the  way  of  Love ;  its  filmiest  threads 
easily  spin  themselves  further ;  and  a  man  once  en 
tangled  is  bound  by  that  unseen  chain  which  links 
the  soul  to  its  destiny, 


CHAPTER  III 

HYDE    AND    ARENTA 

SELDOM  is  Love  ushered  into  any  life  with  any 
pomp  of  circumstance  or  ceremony  ;  there  is  no 
overture  to  our  opera,  no  prologue  to  our  play,  and 
the  most  momentous  meetings  occur  as  if  by  mere 
accident.  A  friend  delayed  Cornelia  a  while  on 
the  street ;  and  turning,  she  met  Hyde  face  to 
face ;  a  moment  more,  or  less,  and  the  meeting 
had  not  been.  Ah,  but  some  Power  had  set  that 
moment  for  their  meeting,  and  the  delay  had  been 
intended,  and  the  consequences  foreseen  ! 

In  a  dim  kind  of  way  Hyde  realized  this  fact  as 
he  sat  the  next  day  with  an  open  book  before  him. 
He  was  not  reading  it ;  he  was  thinking  of  Cornelia 
— of  her  pure,  fresh  beauty  ;  and  of  that  adorable 
air  of  reserve,  which  enhanced,  even  while  it  veiled 
her  charms.  u  For  her  love  I  could  resign  all  ad 
ventures  and  prison  myself  in  a  law  book,"  he  said. 
"  I  could  forget  all  other  beauties ;  in  a  word,  I 
could  marry,  and  live  in  the  country.  Oh  how 
exquisite  she  is  !  I  lose  my  speech  when  I  think 
of  her !  " 

Then  he  closed  his  book  with  impatience,  and 
went  to  Prince's  and  bought  a  little  rush  basket 
33 


34         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

filled  with  sweet  violets.  Into  their  midst  he 
slipped  his  visiting  card,  and  saw  the  boy  on  his 
way  with  the  flowers  to  Cornelia  ere  he  was  satis 
fied  they  would  reach  her  quickly  enough.  This 
finished,  he  began  to  consider  what  he  should  do 
with  his  day.  Study  was  impossible  ;  and  he  could 
think  of  nothing  that  was  possible.  "  It  is  the 
most  miserable  thing,"  he  muttered,  "  to  be  in  love, 
unless  you  can  go  to  the  adored  one,  every  hour, 
and  tell  her  so," — then  turning  aimlessly  into 
Pearl  Street,  he  saw  Cornelia. 

She  was  dressed  only  in  a  little  morning  gown 
of  Indian  chintz,  but  in  such  simple  toilet  had  still 
more  distinctively  that  air  of  youthful  modesty 
which  he  had  found  so  charmingly  tantalizing. 
He  hasted  to  her  side.  He  blessed  his  good  angel 
for  sending  him  such  an  enchanting  surprise.  He 
said  the  most  extravagant  things,  in  the  most 
truthful  manner,  as  he  watched  the  blushes  of 
pleasure  come  and  go  on  her  lovely  face,  and  saw 
by  glimpses,  under  the  veiling  eyelids,  that  tender 
light  that  never  was  on  sea  or  land,  but  only  on  a 
woman's  face  when  her  soul  is  awakening  to  Love. 

Cornelia  was  going  to  the  "  Universal  Store  " 
of  Gerardus  Duyckinck,  and  Hyde  begged  to  go 
with  her.  He  said  he  was  used  to  shopping  ;  that 
he  always  went  with  his  mother,  and  with  Lady 
Christina  Griffin,  and  Mrs.  White,  and  many 
others ;  that  he  had  good  taste,  and  could  tell  the 
value  of  laces,  and  knew  how  to  choose  a  piece  of 


Hyde  and  Arenta  35 

silk,  or  match  the  crewels  for  her  embroidery  ;  and, 
indeed,  pleaded  his  case  so  merrily,  that  there  was 
no  refusing  his  offer.  And  how  it  happened  lovers 
can  tell,  but  after  the  shopping  was  finished  they 
found  themselves  walking  towards  the  Battery, 
with  the  fresh  sea  wind,  and  the  bright  sunshine, 
and  the  joy  of  each  other's  presence  all  around 
them. 

"  Such  a  miraculous  piece  of  happiness  !  "  the 
young  fellow  ejaculated ;  and  his  joy  was  so 
evident  that  Cornelia  could  not  bear  to  spoil  it  with 
any  reluctances,  or  with  half-way  graciousness. 
She  fell  into  his  joyous  mood,  and  as  star  to  star 
vibrates  light,  so  his  soul  touched  her  soul,  through 
some  finer  element  than  ordinary  life  is  conscious 
of.  A  delightsome  gladness  was  between  them, 
and  their  words  had  such  heart  gaiety,  that  they 
seemed  to  dance  as  they  spoke ;  while  the  wind 
blowing  Cornelia's  curls,  and  scarf,  and  drapery, 
was  like  a  merry  playfellow. 

Now  Love  has  always  something  in  it  of  the 
sea;  and  the  murmur  of  the  tide  against  the  pier, 
the  hoarse  voices  of  the  sailor  men,  the  scent  of 
the  salt  water,  and  all  the  occult  unrecognized,  but 
keenly  felt  life  of  the  ocean,  were  ministers  to 
their  love,  and  forever  and  ever  blended  in  the 
heart  and  memory  of  the  youth  and  maid  who  had 
set  their  early  dream  of  each  other  to  its  potent 
witchery.  Time  went  swiftly,  and  suddenly  Cor 
nelia  remembered  that  she  \vas  subject  to  hours 


36         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

and  minutes.  A  little  fear  came  into  her  heart, 
and  closed  it,  and  she  said,  with  a  troubled  air, 
"  My  mother  will  be  anxious.  I  had  forgotten.  I 
must  go  home."  So  they  turned  northward  again, 
and  Cornelia  was  silent,  and  the  ardour  of  her 
lover  was  a  little  chilled ;  but  yet  never  before  had 
Cornelia  heard  simple  conversation  which  seemed 
so  eloquent,  and  so  full  of  meanings — only,  now 
and  then,  a  few  brief  words ;  but  oh  !  what  long, 
long  thoughts,  they  carried  with  them  ! 

At  the  gates  of  her  home  they  stood  a  moment, 
and  there  Hyde  touched  her  hand,  and  said,  u  I 
have  never,  in  all  my  life,  been  so  happy.  It  has 
been  a  walk  beyond  hope,  and  beyond  expression  !  " 
And  she  lifted  her  face,  and  the  smile  on  her  lips 
and  the  light  in  her  eyes  answered  him.  Then 
the  great  white  door  shut  her  from  his  sight,  and 
he  walked  rapidly  away,  saying  to  his  impetuous 
sieps  — 

"  An  enchanting  creature  !  An  adorable  girl ! 
I  have  given  her  my  heart ;  and  lost,  is  lost ;  and 
gone,  is  gone  forever.  That  I  am  sure  of.  But, 
by  St.  George  !  every  man  has  his  fate,  and  I  re 
joice  that  mine  is  so  sweet  and  fair !  so  sweet  !  so 
sweet  !  so  fair  !  " 

Cornelia  trembled  as  she  opened  the  parlour 
door,  she  feared  to  look  into  her  mother's  face,  but 
it  was  as  serene  as  usual,  and  she  met  her  daugh 
ter's  glance  with  one  of  infinite  affection  and  some 
little  expectancy.  This  was  a  critical  moment, 


Hyde  and  Arenta  37 

and  Cornelia  hesitated  slightly.  Some  little  false 
sprite  put  a  ready  excuse  into  her  heart,  but  she 
banished  it  at  once,  and  with  the  courage  of  one 
who  fears  lest  they  are  not  truthful  enough,  she 
said  with  a  blunt  directness  which  put  all  subter 
fuge  out  of  the  question  — 

"  Mother,  I  have  been  a  long  time,  but  I  met 
Lieutenant  Hyde,  and  we  walked  down  to  the  Bat 
tery  ;  and  I  think  I  have  stayed  beyond  the  hour  I 
ought  to  have  stayed — but  the  weather  was  so  de 
lightful." 

"The  weather  is  very  delightful,  and  Lieutenant 
Hyde  is  very  polite.  Did  he  speak  of  the  violets 
he  sent  you  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  he  forgot  them.  Ah,  there  they 
are !  How  beautiful !  How  fragrant  !  I  will 
give  them  to  you,  mother." 

"  They  are  your  own,  my  dear.  I  would  not 
give  them  away." 

Then  Cornelia  lifted  them,  and  shyly  buried  her 
face  in  their  beauty  and  sweetness  ;  and  afterwards 
took  the  card  in  her  hand  and  read  "  Lieutenant 
George  Hyde."  "  But,  mother,"  she  said, 
"  Arenta  called  him  Joris." 

"Joris  is  George,  my  dear." 

"  Certainly,  I  had  forgotten.  Joris  is  the  Dutch, 
George  is  the  English  form.  I  think  I  like  George 
better." 

"  As  you  have  neither  right  nor  occasion  to  call 
him  by  either  name,  it  is  of  no  consequence. 


38         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Take  away  your  flowers  and  put  them  in  water — 
the  young  man  is  very  extravagant,  I  think.  Do 
you  know  that  it  is  quite  noon,  and  your  father 
will  be  home  in  a  little  while  ?  " 

And  there  was  such  kind  intent,  such  a  divining 
sympathy  in  the  simple  words,  that  Cornelia's 
heart  grew  warm  with  pleasure ;  and  she  felt  that 
her  mother  understood,  and  did  not  much  blame 
her.  At  the  same  time  she  was  glad  to  escape  all 
questioning,  and  with  the  violets  pressed  to  her 
heart,  and  her  shining  eyes  dropped  to  them,  she 
went  with  some  haste  to  her  room.  There  she 
kissed  the  flowers,  one  by  one,  as  she  put  them  in 
the  refreshing  water ;  and  then,  forgetting  all  else, 
sat  down  and  permitted  herself  to  enter  the  deli 
cious  land  of  Reverie.  She  let  the  thought  of  Hyde 
repossess  her ;  and  present  again  and  again  to  her 
imagination  his  form,  his  face,  his  voice,  and  those 
long  caressing  looks  she  had  seen  and  felt,  without 
seeming  to  be  aware  of  them. 

A  short  time  after  Cornelia  came  home,  Doctor 
Moran  returned  from  his  professional  visits.  As 
he  entered  the  room,  his  wife  looked  at  him  with 
a  curious  interest.  In  the  first  place,  the  tenor  of 
her  thoughts  led  her  to  this  observation.  She 
wished  to  assure  herself  again  that  the  man  for 
whom  she  had  given  up  everything  previously  dear 
to  her  was  worthy  of  such  sacrifice.  A  momen 
tary  glance  satisfied  her.  Nature  had  left  the  im 
press  of  her  nobility  on  his  finely-formed  fore- 


Hyde  and  Arenta  39 

head  ;  nothing  but  truth  and  kindness  looked  from 
his  candid  eyes ;  and  his  manner,  if  a  little  dog 
matic,  had  also  an  unmistakable  air  of  that  distinc 
tion  which  comes  from  long  and  honourable  an 
cestry  and  a  recognized  position.  He  had  also 
this  morning  an  air  of  unusual  solemnity,  and  on 
entering  the  room,  he  drew  his  wife  close  to  his 
heart  and  kissed  her  affectionately,  a  token  of  love 
he  was  not  apt  to  give  without  thought,  or  under 
every  circumstance. 

u  You  are  a  little  earlier  to  day,"  she  said.  "  I 
am  glad  of  it." 

"  I  have  had  a  morning  full  of  feeling.  There 
is  no  familiarity  with  Death,  however  often  you 
meet  him." 

"  And  you  have  met  Death  this  morning,  I  see 
that,  John  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  I  went  out,  I  heard  of  the  death 
of  Franklin.  We  have  truly  been  expecting  the 
news,  but  who  can  prepare  for  the  final  c  He  is 
gone.'  Congress  will  wear  mourning  for  two 
months,  I  hear,  and  all  good  citizens  who  can  pos 
sibly  do  so  will  follow  their  example.  The  flags 
are  at  half-mast,  and  there  is  sorrow  everywhere." 

"  And  yet,  John,  why  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Moran. 
"  Franklin  has  quite  finished  his  work ;  and  has 
also  seen  the  fruit  of  all  his  labours.  Not  many 
men  are  so  happy.  I,  for  one,  shall  rejoice  with 
him,  and  not  weep  for  him." 

"  You  are  right,  Ava.      I  must  now  tell  you  that 


4-O         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Elder  Semple  died  this  morning.  He  has  been 
long  sick,  but  the  end  came  suddenly  at  last." 

u  The  dear  old  man  !  He  has  been  sick  and 
sorrowful,  ever  since  his  wife  died.  Were  any  of 
his  sons  present  ?  " 

u  None  of  them.  The  two  eldest  have  been 
long  away.  Neil  was  obliged  to  leave  New  York 
when  the  Act  forbidding  Tory  lawyers  to  practice 
was  passed.  But  he  was  not  quite  alone,  his  old 
friend  Joris  Van  Heemskirk  was  with  him  to  the 
last  moment.  The  love  of  these  old  men  for  each 
other  was  a  very  beautiful  thing. " 

u  He  was  once  rich.  Did  he  lose  everything  in 
the  war  ?  " 

"  Very  near  all.  His  home  was  saved  by  Van 
Heemskirk,  and  he  had  a  little  money  '  enough  to 
die  wi' '  he  said  one  day  to  me ;  and  then  he  con 
tinued,  c  there's  compensations,  Doctor,  in  having 
naething  to  leave.  My  lads  will  find  no  bone  to 
quarrel  over.'  I  met  a  messenger  coming  for  me 
this  morning,  and  when  I  went  to  his  bedside,  he 
said,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  '  I'll  be  awa'  in  an  hour 
or  twa  now,  Doctor ;  and  then  I'll  hae  no  mair 
worrying  anent  rebellion  and  democrats ;  I'll  be 
under  the  dominion  o'  the  King  o'  kings  and  His 
throned  Powers  and  Principalities;  and  after  a'  this 
weary  voting,  and  confiscations,  and  guillotining,  it 
will  be  Peace — Peace — Peace  : ' — and  with  that 
word  on  his  lips,  the  c  flitting '  as  he  called  it  was 
accomplished." 


Hyde  and  Arcnta  41 

"  There  is  nothing  to  mourn  in  such  a  death, 
John." 

"  Indeed,  no.  It  was  just  as  he  said  '  a  flitting/ 
And  it  was  strange  that,  standing  watching  what  he 
so  fitly  called  the  *  flitting,'  I  thought  of  some  lines 
I  have  not  consciously  remembered  for  many  years. 
They  reflect  only  the  old  Greek  spirit,  with  its 
calm  acceptance  of  death  and  its  untroubled  resig 
nation,  but  they  seemed  to  me  very  applicable  to 
the  elder's  departure  : 

«  «  Not  otherwise  to  the  hall  of  Hades  dim 
He  fares,  than  if  some  summer  eventide 

A  Message,  not  unlocked  for,  came  to  him ; 
Bidding  him  rise  up  presently,  and  ride 

Some  few  hours'  journey,  to  a  friendly  home.'  " 

"There  is  nothing  to  fear  in  such  a  death." 

"  Nothing  at  all.  Last  week  when  Cornelia  and 
I  passed  his  house,  he  was  leaning  on  the  garden 
gate,  and  he  spoke  pleasantly  to  her  and  told  her 
she  was  a  '  bonnie  lassie/  Where  is  Cornelia  ?  " 

"  In  her  room.  John,  she  went  to  Duyckinck's 
this  morning  for  me,  and  George  Hyde  met  her 
again,  and  they  took  a  walk  together  on  the  Bat 
tery.  It  was  near  the  noon  hour  when  she  re 
turned." 

"  She  told  you  about  it  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,  and  without  inquiry." 

"  Very  good.  I  must  look  after  that  young  fel 
low."  But  he  said  the  words  without  much  care, 
and  Mrs.  Moran  was  not  satisfied. 


42          The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Then  you  do  not  disapprove  the  meeting, 
John  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  do.  I  disapprove  of  any  young  man 
meeting  my  daughter  every  time  she  goes  out. 
Cornelia  is  too  young  for  lovers,  and  it  is  not  de 
sirable  that  she  should  have  attentions  from  young 
men  who  have  no  intentions.  I  do  not  want  her 
to  be  what  is  called  a  belle.  Certainly  not." 

u  But  the  young  men  do  not  think  her  too  young 
to  be  loved.  I  can  see  that  Rem  Van  Ariens  is 
very  fond  of  her." 

"  Rem  is  a  very  fine  young  man.  If  Cornelia 
was  old  enough  to  marry,  I  should  make  no  ob 
jections  to  Rem.  He  has  some  money.  He  prom 
ises  to  be  a  good  lawyer.  I  like  the  family.  It  is 
as  pure  Dutch  as  any  in  the  country.  There  is  no 
objection  to  Rem  Van  Ariens." 

"  And  George  Hyde  ?  " 

"  Has  too  many  objectionable  qualities  to  be 
worth  considering." 

"  Such  as  ?  " 

"  Well,  Ava,  I  will  only  name  one,  and  one  for 
which  he  is  not  responsible ;  but  yet  it  would  be 
insuperable,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned.  His  father 
is  an  Englishman  of  the  most  pronounced  type,  and 
this  young  man  is  quite  like  him.  I  want  no  Eng 
lishman  in  my  family." 

"  My  family  are  of  English  descent." 

"  Thoroughly  Americanized.  They  are  longer 
in  this  country  than  the  Washingtons." 


Hyde  and  Arenta  43 

u  There  have  been  many  Dutch  marriages 
among  the  Morans." 

"  That  is  a  different  thing.  The  Dutch,  as  a 
race,  have  every  desirable  quality.  The  English 
are  natural  despots.  Rem  was  quite  right  last 
night.  I  saw  and  felt,  as  much  as  he  did,  the  quiet 
but  sovereign  arrogance  of  young  Hyde.  His  calm 
assumption  of  superiority  was  in  reality  insufferable. 
The  young  man's  faults  are  racial;  they  are  in  the 
blood.  Cornelia  shall  not  have  anything  to  do 
with  him.  Why  do  you  speak  of  such  disagree 
able  things,  Ava  ?  " 

"  It  is  well  to  look  forward,  John." 

"  No.  It  is  time  enough  to  meet  annoyances 
when  they  arrive.  But  this  is  one  not  even  to  be 
thought  of — to  tell  the  last  truth,  Ava,  I  dislike  his 
father,  General  Hyde,  very  much  indeed." 

"  Why  ?  " 

u  I  cannot  tell  you  '  why.'  Yes,  I  will  be  hon 
est  and  acknowledge  that  he  always  gives  me  a 
sense  of  hostility.  He  arrogates  himself  too  much. 
When  I  was  in  the  army,  a  good  many  were  angry 
at  General  Washington,  for  making  so  close  a 
friend  of  him — but  Washington  has  much  of  the 

O 

same  exclusive  air.  I  hope  it  is  no  treason  to  say 
that  much,  for  a  good  deal  of  dignity  is  permis 
sible,  even  peremptory,  when  a  man  fills  great 
positions.  As  for  the  Hydes,  father  and  son,  I 
would  prefer  to  hear  no  more  about  them.  When 
the  youth  was  my  guest,  I  was  civil  to  him;  but 


/[/I          The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

I  hope  Cornelia  will  not  impose  the  duty  on  me 
again." 

Nothing  further  was  said  on  the  subject,  but  the 
Doctor  looked  more  attentively  at  his  daughter  than 
was  usual  with  him.  He  was  struck  with  her 
beauty,  by  some  rare  quality  in  it  which  he  had  never 
before  noticed ;  some  interior  quality,  which  he  did 
not  understand,  but  whose  reflection  was  beyond 
doubt  or  dispute.  It  gave  him  a  sense  of  trouble, 
and  of  indeterminate  trouble,  that  he  could  not 
meet  and  conquer.  And  this  feeling  of  insufficiency 
irritated  him.  He  was  more  silent  than  ordinary ; 
and  as  he  went  out,  told  Cornelia,  she  would  do 
well  not  to  appear  in  public. 

"  The  city  is  in  mourning,"  he  said,  "  and  re 
spectable  women  who  have  no  real  business  or  duty 
to  take  them  from  their  homes  will  pay  the  reverence 
of  seclusion  in  them  until  after  Franklin's  funeral." 

He  was  glad  to  see  that  Cornelia  evinced  neither 
displeasure  nor  disappointment  at  the  request.  "  It 
is  all  right,  Ava,"  he  said  softly  to  his  wife,  as  he 
stood  with  his  hat  in  his  hand  ready  himself  to  go 
abroad ;  "  she  was  not  in  the  least  annoyed  by  the 
idea  of  seclusion.  There  has  been  no  future  ap 
pointment  made ;  consequently,  no  understanding. 
Boys  and  girls  will  look,  and  love,  and  tell  each 
other  the  reason  why,  but  of  course  in  Cornelia's 
case,  it  is  to  be  prevented — if  possible.  You  must 
keep  on  guard,  Ava;  though  really  I  think  the 
little  girl  is  very  honest  and  straightforward." 


Hyde  and  Arenta  45 

A  couple  of  hours  later  Cornelia  was  sitting  at 
her  tambour-frame,  passing  her  needle  slowly 
through  and  through  the  delicate  muslin.  The 
long,  long  thoughts  of  love  kept  her  happy  com 
pany.  She  was  desiring  no  other  companionship, 
when  Arenta  entered  with  her  usual  little  flurry  and 
rustle.  She  stood  at  the  door  with  an  air  of  in 
jury,  and  asked  u  if  she  might  come  in  ?  " 

"  Do  not  be  absurd,  Arenta.  You  know  that  I 
am  glad  to  see  you." 

Then  Arenta  kissed  her  friend,  and  took  off  her 
hat  and  cloak,  saying,  as  she  did  so  — 

"  I  have  been  at  Aunt  Angelica's  all  morning ; 
and  we  had  a  delicious  cup  of  chocolate  together — 
aunt  always  has  chocolate  and  cake  and  bonbons 
— and  we  talked  a  great  many  people  over — that  is, 
Aunt  Angelica  talked  ;  as  for  me,  it  is  my  principle 
to  hear,  and  see,  and  say  nothing." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  Arenta,  you  are  not  dumb  ;  for 
instance,  you  said  some  things  last  night  that  were 
unpleasant " 

"  Never  mind,  Cornelia,  what  I  said  last  night. 
This  morning,  I  look  at  the  bright  side  of  things, 
which,  you  know,  is  always  my  way.  They  who 
do  not  do  so,  are,  I  think,  very  foolish  people.  I 
suppose  that  you  have  heard  of  the  death  of  Frank 
lin  ?  Aunt  Angelica  knew  him  ;  she  has  known 
all  the  great  men  of  her  generation ;  and  what  do 
you  think  she  said  of  them  ?  " 

"  I   cannot  even   imagine  your  aunt's  opinions, 


46         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Arenta.  You  know  that  I  have  never  seen 
her." 

"That  is  the  truth.  I  had  forgotten.  Well, 
then,  I  went  to  her  with  the  news ;  and  she  rubbed 
her  chin,  and  called  to  her  man  Govert,  to  get  a 
bow  of  crape  and  put  it  on  the  front  door.  '  It  is 
moral,  and  proper,  and  respectable,  Arenta/  she 
said,  4  and  I  advise  you  to  do  the  same.'  But  then 
she  laughed  and  added,  '  Shall  I  tell  you,  niece, 
what  I  think  of  the  great  men  I  have  met  ?  They 
are  disagreeable,  conceited  creatures ;  and  ought, 
all  of  them,  to  have  died  before  they  were  born  ; 
and  for  my  part,  I  am  satisfied  not  to  have  had  the 
fate  to  marry  one  of  them.  As  for  Benjamin 
Franklin/  she  continued,  c  he  was  a  particularly 
great  man,  and  I  am  particularly  grateful  that  I 
never  saw  him  but  once.  I  formed  my  opinion  of 
him  then;  for  I  only  need  to  see  a  person  once,  to 
form  an  opinion — and  he  is  dead  !  Well,  then, 
every  one  dies  at  their  own  time.' ' 

"  My  father  says  Congress  goes  into  mourning 
for  him." 

"  Does  it  ? "  asked  Arenta,  with  indifference. 
"  Aunt  was  beginning  to  tell  me  something  about 
him  when  he  was  in  France,  but  I  just  put  a  stop 
to  talk  like  that,  and  said,  '  Now,  aunt,  for  a  little 
of  my  own  affairs.'  So  I  told  her  about  George 
Berckel,  and  asked  her  if  she  thought  I  might 
marry  George  ;  and  she  answered,  l  If  you  are  tired 
of  easy  days,  Arenta,  go,  and  take  a  husband/ 


Hyde  and  Arenta  47 

After  a  while  I  spoke  to  her  about  Lieutenant 
Hyde,  and  she  said,  '  she  had  seen  the  little  coclcrel 
strutting  about  Pearl  Street.' ' 

"  That  was  not  a  proper  thing  to  say.  Lieuten 
ant  Hyde  carries  himself  in  the  most  distinguished 
manner." 

"  Well,  then,  that  is  exactly  so ;  but  Aunt  An 
gelica  has  her  own  way  of  saying  things.  She  in 
tended  nothing  unkind  or  disrespectful.  She  told 
me  that  she  had  frequently  danced  with  his  father 
when  she  was  a  girl  and  a  beauty  j  and  she  added 
with  a  laugh,  '  I  can  assure  you,  Arenta,  that  in 
those  days  he  was  no  saint ;  although  he  is  now,  I 
hear,  the  very  pink  of  propriety/  ' 

"  Is  not  that  as  it  should  be,  Arenta  ?  We 
ought  surely  to  grow  better  as  we  grow  older." 

"  That  is  not  to  be  denied,  Cornelia.  Now  I 
can  tell  you  something  worth  hearing  about  Gen 
eral  Hyde." 

"  If  it  is  anything  wrong,  or  unkind,  I  will  not 
listen  to  it,  Arenta.  Have  you  forgotten  that  the 
good  Sisters  always  forbid  us  to  listen  to  an  evil 
report  ?  " 

"  Then  one  must  shut  one's  ears  if  one  lives  in 
New  York.  But,  indeed,  it  is  nothing  wrong — 
only  something  romantic  and  delightful,  and  quite 
as  good  as  a  story  book.  Shall  I  tell  you  ?  " 

u  As  you  wish." 

"  As  you  wish." 

"  Then  I  would  like  to  hear  it." 


48         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Listen  !  When  Madame  Hyde  was  Katherine 
Van  Heemskirk,  and  younger  than  you  are,  she  had 
two  lovers  ;  one,  Captain  Dick  Hyde,  and  the  other 
a  young  man  called  Neil  Semple  ;  and  they  fought  a 
duel  about  her,  and  nearly  cut  each  other  to  pieces." 

"  Arenta !  " 

"  Oh,  it  is  the  truth !  It  is  the  very  truth,  I 
assure  you  !  And  while  Hyde  still  lay  between 
life  and  death,  Miss  Van  Heemskirk  married  him  ; 
and  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  he  carried  her  off  at 
midnight  to  England  ;  and  there  they  lived  in  a 
fine  old  house  until  the  war.  Then  they  came 
back  to  New  York,  and  Hyde  went  into  the  Con 
tinental  army  and  did  great  things,  I  suppose,  for 
as  we  all  knew,  he  was  made  a  general.  You 
should  have  heard  Aunt  Angelica  tell  the  story. 
She  remembered  the  whole  affair.  It  was  a  de 
lightful  story  to  listen  to,  as  we  drank  our  choco 
late.  And  will  you  please  only  try  to  imagine  it 
of  Mrs.  General  Hyde !  A  woman  so  lofty  !  So 
calm !  So  afar  off  from  every  impropriety  that 
you  always  feel  it  impossible  in  her  presence  to 
commit  the  least  bit  of  innocent  folly.  Will  you 
imagine  her  as  Katherine  Van  Heemskirk  in  a 
short,  quilted  petticoat,  with  her  hair  hanging  in 
two  braids  down  her  back,  running  away  at  mid 
night  with  General  Hyde  !  " 

"  He  was  her  husband.  She  committed  no 
fault." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  the  quilted  petticoat,  and  the 


Hyde  and  Arenta  49 

two  braids ;  for  who  now  dresses  so  extravagantly 
and  so  magnificently  as  Madame  Hyde  *  She  has 
an  Indian  shawl  that  cost  two  hundred  pounds. 
Aunt  Angelica  says  John  Embree  told  her  '  that 
much,  at  the  very  least  * — and  as  for  the  General  ! 
is  there  any  man  in  New  York  so  proud,  and  so 
full  of  dignity — and  morality  ?  He  is  in  St.  Paul's 
Chapel  every  Sunday,  and  when  you  see  him  there, 
how  could  you  imagine  that  he  had  fought  half-a- 
dozen  duels,  for  haif-a-dozen  beauties  ?  " 

"  Half-a-dozen  duels  !     Oh,  Arenta  !  " 

"  About  that  number — more  or  less — before  and 
after  the  Van  Heemskirk  incident.  Look  at  him 
next  Sunday,  and  then  try  and  believe  that  he  was 
the  topmost  leader  in  all  the  fashionable  follies,  un 
til  he  went  to  the  war.  People  say  it  is  General 
Washington " 

"  General  Washington  ?  " 

"That  has  changed  him  so  much.  They  have 
been  a  great  deal  together,  and  I  do  believe  the 
proprieties  are  catching.  If  evil  is  to  be  taken  in 
bad  company,  why  not  good  in  the  presence  of  all 
that  is  moral  and  respectable  ?  At  any  rate,  who 
is  now  more  proper  than  General  Hyde  ?  Indeed, 
as  Aunt  Angelica  says,  we  must  all  pay  our  re 
spects  to  the  Hydes,  if  we  desire  our  own  caps  to 
set  straight.  Cornelia,  shall  I  tell  you  why  you  are 
working  so  close  to  the  window  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  You  are  going  to  say  something  I  would  rather 
not  hear,  Arenta/' 


50         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Truth  is  wholesome,  if  not  agreeable  ;  and  the 
truth  is,  you  expect  Lieutenant  Hyde  to  pass. 
But  he  will  not  do  so.  I  saw  him  booted  and 
spurred,  on  a  swift  horse,  going  up  the  river  road. 
He  was  bound  for  Hyde  Manor,  I  am  sure.  Now, 
Cornelia,  you  need  not  move  your  frame  ;  for  no 
one  will  disturb  you,  and  I  wish  to  tell  you  some  of 
my  affairs." 

"About  your  lovers  ?  " 

"Yes.  I  have  met  a  certain  French  marquis, 
who  is  attached  to  the  Count  de  Moustier's  em 
bassy.  I  met  him  at  intervals  all  last  winter,  and 
to-day,  I  have  a  love  letter  from  him — a  real  love 
letter — and  he  desires  to  ask  my  father  for  my 
hand.  I  shall  now  have  something  to  say  to 
Madame  Kippon." 

"  But  you  would  not  marry  a  Frenchman  ? 
That  is  an  impossible  thought,  Arenta." 

"  No  more  so  than  an  Englishman.  In  fact, 
Englishmen  are  not  to  be  thought  of  at  all ;  while 
Frenchmen  are  the  fashion.  Just  consider  the 
drawing-rooms  of  our  great  American  ladies  ;  they 
are  full  of  French  nobles." 

"  But  they  are  exiles,  for  the  most  part  very 
poor,  and  devoted  to  the  idea  of  monarchy." 

"  Ah,  but  my  Frenchman  is  different.  He  is 
rich,  he  is  in  the  confidence  of  the  present  French 
government,  and  he  adores  republican  principles. 
Indeed  he  wore  at  Lady  Grffin's,  last  week,  his  red 
cap  of  Liberty,  and  looked  quite  distinguished  in  it." 


Hyde  and  Arenta  jfl 

"  I  am  astonished  that  Lady  Griffin  permitted 
such  a  spectacle.  I  am  sure  it  was  a  vulgar  thing 
to  do.  Only  the  sans-culottes,  make  such  exhi 
bitions  of  their  private  feelings." 

"  I  think  it  was  a  very  brave  thing  to  do — and 
Lady  Griffin,  with  her  English  prejudices  and  aris 
tocratic  notions,  had  to  tolerate  it.  He  is  very 
tall  and  dark,  and  he  was  dressed  in  scarlet,  with  a 
long  black  satin  vest ;  and  you  may  believe  that 
the  scarlet  cap  on  his  black  curling  hair  was  very 
imposing/* 

"  Imposing  !  How  could  it  possibly  be  that  ? 
It  is  only  associated  with  mobs,  and  mob  law — 
and  guillotining." 

"  I  shall  not  contradict  you — though  I  could  do 
so  easily.  I  will  say,  then,  that  it  was  very  pic 
turesque.  He  asked  me  to  dance  a  minuet  with 
him,  and  when  I  did  not  refuse  he  was  beside  him 
self  with  pleasure  and  gratitude.  And  after  I  had 
opened  the  way,  several  of  the  best  ladies  in  the 
town  followed.  After  all,  it  was  a  matter  of  po 
litical  opinion ;  and  it  is  against  our  American 
ideas  to  send  any  man  to  Jersey  for  his  politics. 
Mr.  Jefferson  was  in  red  also." 

"  I  wish  to  dance  with  Mr.  Jefferson,  but  I  now 
think  of  waiting  till  he  gets  a  new  suit." 

"  I  am  sure  that  no  one  ever  made  a  finer  figure 
in  a  dance  than  I,  in  my  white  satin  and  pearls, 
and  the  Marquis  Athanase  de  Tounnerre  in  his 
scarlet  dress  and  Liberty  cap.  Every  one  regarded 


52          The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

us.  He  tells  me,  to-day,  that  the  emotion  I  raised 
in  his  soul  that  hour  has  not  been  stilled  for  a 
moment." 

"  Have  you  thought  of  your  father  ?  He  would 
never  consent  to  such  a  marriage — and  what  will 
Rem  say  ?  " 

"  My  father  will  storm,  and  speak  words  he 
should  not  speak  ;  but  I  am  not  afraid  of  words. 
Rem  is  more  to  be  dreaded.  He  will  not  talk  his 
anger  away.  Yes,  I  should  be  afraid  of  Rem." 

"But  you  have  not  really  decided  to  accept  the 
Marquis  Tounnerre  ?  " 

"  No.  I  have  not  quite  decided.  I  like  to  stand 
between  Yes  and  No.  I  like  to  be  entreated  to 
marry,  and  then  again,  to  be  entreated  not  to  marry. 
I  like  to  hesitate  between  the  French  and  the 
Dutch.  I  am  not  in  the  least  sure  on  which  side 
I  shall  finally  range  myself." 

"  Then  do  not  decide  in  a  hurry." 

"  Have  I  not  told  you  I  like  to  waver,  and 
vacillate,  and  oscillate,  and  make  scruples  ?  These 
are  things  a  woman  can  do,  both  with  privilege 
and  inclination.  I  think  myself  to  be  very  clever 
in  such  ways." 

"I  would  not  care,  nor  dare,  to  venture " 

"  You  are  a  very  baby  yet.  I  am  two  years 
older  than  you.  But  indeed  you  are  progressing 
with  some  rapidity.  What  about  George  Hyde  ?  " 

"  You  said  he  had  gone  out  of  town." 

"  And  I  am  glad  of  it.      He  will  not  now  be  in- 


*'l    WISH    TO    DANCK    WITH    MR.    JKFFKRSON. 


Hyde  and  Arenta  53 

sinuating  himself  with  violets,  and  compelling  you 
to  take  walks  with  him  on  the  Battery.  Oh, 
Cornelia !  you  see  I  am  not  to  be  put  out  of  your 
confidence.  Why  did  you  not  tell  me  ?  " 

"  You  have  given  me  no  opportunity  ;  and,  as 
you  know  all,  why  should  I  say  any  more  about 
it  ?  " 

u  Cornelia,  my  dear  companion,  I  fear  you  are 
inclined  to  concealment  and  to  reticence,  qualities 
a  young  girl  should  not  cultivate — I  am  now  speak 
ing  for  dear  Sister  Maria  Beroth — and  I  hope  you 
will  carefully  consider  the  advantages  you  will  de 
rive  from  cultivating  a  more  open  disposition." 

u  You  are  making  a  mockery  of  the  good 
Sisters ;  and  I  do  not  wish  to  hear  you  commit 
such  a  great  fault.  Indeed,  I  would  be  pleased  to 
return  to  their  peaceful  care  again." 

"  And  wear  the  little  linen  cap  and  collar,  and 
all  the  other  simplicities  ?  Cornelia  !  Cornelia  ! 
You  are  as  fond  as  I  am  of  French  fashions  and 
fripperies.  Let  us  be  honest,  if  we  die  for  it. 
And  you  may  as  well  tell  me  all  your  little  co 
quetries  with  George  Hyde ;  for  I  shall  be  sure  to 
find  them  out.  Now  I  am  going  home ;  for  I 
must  look  after  the  tea-table.  But  you  will  not  be 
sorry,  for  it  will  leave  you  free  to  think  of " 

"  Please,  Arenta  !  " 

"  Very  well.  I  will  have  c  considerations.*  Good 
bye  !  " 

Then    the   door    closed,  and    Cornelia   ivas  left 


54         The  Maid  of    Maiden  Lane 

alone.  But  the  atmosphere  of  the  room  was 
charged  with  Arenta's  unrest,  and  a  feeling  of  dis 
appointment  was  added  to  it.  She  suddenly 
realized  that  her  lover's  absence  from  the  city  left 
a  great  vacancy.  What  were  all  the  thousands  in 
its  streets,  if  he  was  not  there  ?  She  might  now 
indeed  remove  her  frame  from  the  window ;  if 
Hyde  was  an  impossibility,  there  was  no  one  else 
she  wished  to  see  pass.  And  her  heart  told  her 
the  report  was  a  true  one ;  she  did  not  doubt  for  a 
moment  Arenta's  supposition,  that  he  had  gone  to 
Hyde  Manor.  But  the  thought  made  her  lonely. 
Something,  she  knew  not  what,  had  altered  her 
life.  She  had  a  new  strange  happiness,  new  hopes, 
new  fears  and  new  wishes ;  but  they  were  not  an 
unmixed  delight ;  for  she  was  also  aware  of  a  vague 
trouble,  a  want  that  nothing  in  her  usual  duties 
satisfied  : — in  a  word,  she  had  crossed  the  threshold 
of  womanhood  and  was  no  longer  a  girl, 

"  Singing  alone  in  the  morning  of  life, 
In  the  happy  morning  of  life,  and  May." 


CHAPTER  IV 

THROWING    THINGS    INTO    CONFUSION 

PRUDENCE  declares  that  whenever  a  person  is  in 
that  disagreeable  situation  which  compels  him  to 
ask  "  what  shall  I  do?  "  that  the  wisest  answer  is, 
"  nothing."  But  such  answer  did  not  satisfy 
George  Hyde.  He  was  too  young,  too  sure  of  his 
own  good  fortune,  too  restless  and  impulsive,  to  ac 
cept  Prudence  as  a  councillor.  He  might  have 
considered,  that,  hitherto,  affairs  had  happened 
precisely  as  he  wished  them ;  and  that  it  would  be 
good  policy  to  trust  to  his  future  opportunities. 
But  he  was  so  much  in  earnest,  so  honestly  in  love, 
that  he  felt  his  doubts  and  anxieties  could  only  be 
relieved  by  action.  Sympathy,  at  least,  he  must 
have ;  and  he  knew  no  man,  to  whom  he  would 
willingly  talk  of  Cornelia.  The  little  jests  and 
innuendoes  sure  to  follow  his  confidence  would  be 
intolerable  if  associated  with  a  creature  so  pure 
and  so  ingenuous. 

"  I  will  go  to  my  mother  !  "  he  thought.  And 
this  resolution  satisfied  him  so  well,  that  he  carried 
it  out  at  once.  But  it  was  after  dark  when  he 
reached  the  tall  stone  portals  of  Hyde  Manor 
House.  The  ride,  however,  had  given  him  back 
his  best  self.  For  when  we  leave  society  and  come 
55 


56         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

into  the  presence  of  Nature,  we  become  children 
again  ;  and  the  fictions  of  thought  and  action  as 
sumed  among  men  drop  off  like  a  garment.  The 
beauty  of  the  pale  green  hills,  and  the  flowing 
river,  and  the  budding  trees,  and  the  melody  of 
birds  singing  as  if  they  never  would  grow  old,  were 
all  but  charming  accessories  and  horizons  to  his 
constant  pictures  of  Cornelia.  It  was  she  who 
gave  life  and  beauty  to  all  he  saw ;  for  as  a  rule,  if 
men  notice  nature  at  all,  it  is  ever  through  some 
painted  window  of  their  own  souls.  Few  indeed 
are  those  who  hear  — 

"  The  Ancient  Word, 
That  walked  among  the  silent  trees." 

Yet  Hyde  was  keenly  conscious  of  some  mystical 
sympathy  between  himself  and  the  lovely  scenes 
through  which  he  passed — conscious  still  more  of 
it  when  the  sun  had  set  and  the  moon  rose — dim 
and  inscrutable — over  the  lonely  way,  and  filled  the 
narrow  glen  which  was  at  the  entrance  to  the 
Manor  House  full  of  brooding  power. 

The  great  building  loomed  up  dark  and  silent ; 
there  was  but  one  light  visible.  It  was  in  his 
mother's  usual  sitting-room,  and  as  soon  as  he  saw 
it,  he  began  to  whistle.  She  heard  him  afar  off, 
and  was  at  the  door  to  give  him  a  welcome. 

"  Joris,  my  dear  one,  we  were  talking  of  you  !  " 
she  cried,  as  he  leaped  from  the  saddle  to  her  arms. 
"  So  glad  are  we  !  Come  in  quickly  !  Such  a  good 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     57 

surprise  !  It  is  our  hearts'  wish  granted  !  Well, 
are  you  ?  Quite  well  ?  Now,  then,  I  am  happy. 
Happy  as  can  be!  Look  now,  Richard!"  she 
called,  as  she  flung  the  door  open,  and  entered  with 
the  handsome,  smiling  youth  at  her  side. 

In  his  way  the  father  was  just  as  much  pleased. 
He  pushed  some  papers  he  had  been  busy  with  im 
patiently  aside,  and  stood  up  with  outstretched 
hand  to  meet  his  son. 

u  Kate,  my  dear  heart,"  he  cried,  "  let  us  have 
something  to  eat.  The  boy  will  be  hungry  as  a 
hunter  after  his  ride.  And  George,  what  brings 
you  home  ?  We  were  just  telling  each  other — 
your  mother  and  I — that  you  were  in  the  height  of 
the  city's  follies." 

"  Indeed,  sir,  there  will  be  few  follies  for  some 
days.  Mr.  Franklin  is  dead,  and  the  city  goes  into 
mourning." 

"  'Tis  a  fate  that  all  must  meet,"  said  the  Gen 
eral  ;  "  but  death  and  Franklin  would  look  each 

other  in  the  face  as  friends He  had  a  work  to 

do,  he  did  it  well,  and  it  is  finished.  That  is  all. 
What  other  news  do  you  bring  ? " 

a  It  is  said  that  Mirabeau  is  arrested  somewhere, 
for  something.  I  did  not  hear  the  particulars." 

"Probably,  for  the  very  least  of  his  crimes. 
Marat  hates  him  ;  and  Marat  represents  the  fury 
of  the  Revolution.  The  monster  wished  to  erect 
eight  hundred  gibbets,  and  hang  Mirabeau  first." 

"  And  the  deputies  are  returning  to  the  Provinces, 


58         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

drunk  with  their  own  importance.  They  have 
abolished  titles,  and  coats  of  arms,  and  liveries; 
and  published  a  list  of  the  names  the  nobles  are  to 
assume — as  if  people  did  not  know  their  own 
names.  Mr.  Hamilton  says  l  Revolution  in  France 
has  gone  raving  mad,  and  converted  twenty-four 
millions  of  people  into  savages.' ' 

u  I  hate  the  French  !  "  said  the  General  passion 
ately.  "  It  is  a  natural  instinct  with  me,  just  as 
tame  animals  are  born  with  an  antipathy  to  wild 
beasts.  If  I  thought  I  had  one  drop  of  French 
blood  in  me,  I  would  let  it  out  with  a  dagger." 

George  winced  a  little.  He  remembered  that 
the  Morans  were  of  French  extraction  ;  and  he  an 
swered  — 

"  After  all,  father,  we  must  judge  people  indi 
vidually.  Mere  race  is  not  much." 

"  George  Hyde  !  What  are  you  saying  ?  Race 
is  everything.  It  is  the  strongest  and  deepest  of 
all  human  feelings.  Nothing  conquers  its  preju 
dices." 

"  Except  love.  I  have  heard,  father,  that  Love 
never  asks  4  of  what  race  art  thou  ? '  or  even 
'  whose  son,  or  daughter,  art  thou  ? ' 

"  You  have  heard  many  foolish  things,  George ; 
that  is  one  of  them.  Men  and  women  marry  out 
of  their  own  nationality,  at  their  peril.  I  took  my 
life  in  my  hand  for  your  mother's  love." 

"  She  was  worthy  of  the  peril." 

"  God  knows  it." 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     59 

At  this  moment  Mrs.  Hyde  entered  the  room, 
her  fair  face  alight  with  love.  A  servant  carrying 
a  tray  full  of  good  things  to  eat,  followed  her;  and 
it  was  delightful  to  watch  her  eager  happiness  as 
she  arranged  meats,  and  sweetmeats,  in  tempting 
order  for  the  hungry  young  man.  He  thoroughly 
enjoyed  this  provision  for  his  comfort ;  and  as  he 
ate,  he  talked  to  his  father  of  those  things  interest 
ing  to  him,  answering  all  questions  with  that  com 
plaisant  positiveness  of  youth  which  decides  every 
thing  at  once,  and  without  reservation.  No  one 
understood  this  better  than  General  Hyde,  but  it 
pleased  him  to  draw  out  his  son's  opinions ;  and  it 
also  pleased  him  to  watch  the  pride  of  the  fond 
mother,  who  evidently  considered  her  boy  a  para 
gon  of  youthful  judgment. 

u  And  pray,"  he  asked,  u  what  can  you  tell  me 
about  the  seat  of  government  ?  Will  New  York 
be  chosen  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  it  will  be  Philadelphia  ;  and,  indeed, 
I  care  not.  It  would,  however,  amuse  you  to  hear 
some  of  the  opinions  on  the  matter ;  for  every  one 
hangs  his  judgment  on  the  peg  of  his  own  little  in 
terests  or  likings.  Young  De  Witt  says  New  York 
wants  no  government  departments  ;  that  she  is  far 
too  busy  a  city,  to  endure  government  idlers  hang 
ing  around  her  best  streets.  Doctor  Rush  says  the 
government  is  making  our  city  a  sink  of  political 
vice.  Mr.  Wolcott  says  honesty  is  the  fashion  in 
New  York.  Some  of  the  clergy  think  Wall  Street 


60         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

as  wicked  as  the  most  fashionable  streets  in  Tyre 
and  Sodom ;  and  the  street-singers — thanks  to  Mr. 
Freneau — have  each,  and  all,  their  little  audiences 
on  the  subject.  As  I  came  up  Broadway,  a  man 
was  shouting  a  rhyme  advising  the  Philadelphians 
to  '  get  ready  their  dishcloths  and  brooms,  and  be 
gin  scouring  their  knockers,  and  scrubbing  their 
rooms.'  Perhaps  the  most  sensible  thing  on  the 
subject  came  from  one  of  the  New  England  sena 
tors.  He  thought  the  seat  of  government  ought  to 
be  c  in  some  wilderness,  where  there  would  be  no 
social  attractions,  where  members  could  go  and  at 
tend  strictly  to  business/  Upon  my  word,  sir,  the 
opinions  are  endless  in  number  and  variety  ;  but,  in 
truth,  Mr.  Hamilton  and  Mr.  Morris  are  arranging 
the  matter.  This  is  without  doubt.  There  is  to 
be  some  sort  of  compromise  with  the  Southern 
senators,  who  are  promised  the  capital  on  the 
Potomac,  finally,  if  they  no  longer  oppose  the  as 
sumption  of  the  State  debts.  I  hear  that  Mr.  Jef 
ferson  has  been  brought  to  agree  to  this  under 
standing.  And  Mr.  Morris  doubtless  thinks,  if  the 
government  offices  are  once  opened  in  Philadelphia, 
they  will  remain  there." 

"  And  Joris,  the  ladies  ?  What  say  they  on  the 
subject  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Hyde. 

u  Indeed,  mother,  some  of  them  are  lamenting, 
and  some  looking  forward  to  the  change.  All  are 
talking  of  the  social  deposition  of  the  beautiful 
Mrs.  Bingham.  '  She  will  have  to  abate  herself  a 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     61 

little  before  Mrs.  Washington,'  I  heard  one  lady 
say ;  while  others  declare,  that  her  association  with 
our  Republican  Court  will  be  harmonious  and  ad 
vantageous ;  especially,  as  she  is  beloved  in  the 
home  of  the  President." 

u  Our  Republican  Court!  The  definition  is  ab 
surd  !  "  said  General  Hyde,  with  both  scorn  and 
temper.  u  A  court  pre-supposes  both  royalty  and 
nobility  ! " 

u  We  have  both  of  them  intrinsically,  father." 

"  In  faith,  George  !  you  will  find,  that  intrinsic 
qualities  have  no  social  value.  What  people  re 
quire  is  their  external  evidence." 

u  And  their  external  evidence  would  be  ex 
tremely  offensive  here,  sir.  For  my  part,  I  think, 
the  sneaking  hankering  after  titles  and  ceremonies, 
among  our  wealthy  men  and  women  is  a  very  great 
weakness.  Every  one  knows  that  nothing  would 
please  fussy  Mr.  Adams  better  than  to  be  a  duke, 
or  even  a  lord — and  he  is  by  no  means  alone  in 
such  desires." 

"  They  may  be  yet  realized." 

"  They  will  not,  sir — not,  at  least,  while  Thomas 
Jefferson  lives.  He  is  the  bulldog  of  Democracy, 
and  he  would  be  at  the  throat  of  any  such  pre 
tences  as  soon  as  they  were  suggested." 

"  Very  well,  George  !     I  have  no  objections." 

u  I  knew,  sir,  that  you  were  a  thorough  Demo 
crat." 

"  Do  not  go  too   far,  George.     I  love  Democ- 


62         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

racy ;  but  I  hate  Democrats  !  Now  I  am  sleepy, 
and  as  Mr.  Jefferson  is  on  the  watch,  I  may  go  to 
sleep  comfortably.  I  will  talk  to  you  more  on 
these  subjects  in  the  morning.  Good-night  ! " 
He  put  his  hand  on  his  son's  shoulder,  and  looked 
with  a  proud  confidence  into  the  bright  face,  lifted 
to  the  touch. 

Then  George  was  alone  with  his  mother;  but 
she  was  full  of  little  household  affairs  ;  and  he  could 
not  bring  into  them  a  subject  so  close,  and  so  sa 
cred  to  his  heart.  He  listened  a  little  wearily  to 
her  plans,  and  was  glad  when  she  recollected  the 
late  hour  and  hurried  him  away  to  his  chamber — a 
large,  lofty  room  in  the  front  of  the  house,  on 
which  she  had  realized  all  the  ideas  that  her  great 
love,  and  her  really  exquisite  taste  suggested.  He 
entered  it  with  a  sense  of  delight,  and  readily  sur 
rendered  himself  to  its  dreamy  air  of  sleep  and 
rest.  "  I  will  speak  to  my  mother  in  the  morn 
ing,"  he  thought.  "  To-night,  her  mind  is  full  of 
other  things." 

But  in  the  morning  Mrs.  Hyde  was  still  more 
interested  in  "other  things."  She  had  an  archi 
tect  with  her,  her  servants  were  to  order,  her  house 
to  look  after ;  and  George  readily  felt  that  his  hour 
was  certainly  not  in  the  early  morning.  He  had 
slept  a  little  late,  and  his  mother  did  not  approve 
of  sleep  beyond  the  normal  hour.  He  saw  that  he 
had  delayed  household  matters,  and  made  an  en 
vironment  not  quite  harmonious.  So  he  ate  his 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     63 

breakfast  rapidly,  and  went  out  to  the  new  stables. 
He  expected  to  find  the  General  there,  and  he 
was  not  disappointed.  He  had,  however,  finished 
his  inspection  of  the  horses,  and  he  proposed  a 
walk  to  the  upper  end  of  the  Glen,  where  a  great 
pond  was  being  dug  for  Mrs.  Hyde's  swans,  and 
other  aquatic  birds. 

There  was  much  to  interest  them  as  they 
walked :  men  were  busy  draining,  and  building 
stone  walls ;  ploughing  and  sowing,  and  digging, 
and  planting.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of  all  this  busy 
life,  George  detected  in  his  father's  manner  an  air 
of  melancholy.  He  looked  into  his  son's  face 
with  affection,  and  pointed  out  to  him  with  an  ap 
parent  interest,  the  improvements  in  progress,  but 
George  knew — though  he  could  not  have  explained 
why  he  knew — that  his  father's  heart  was  not 
really  in  these  things.  Presently  he  asked,  "  How 
goes  it  with  your  law  books,  George  ?  " 

"  Faith,  sir,  I  must  confess,  very  indifferently. 
I  have  no  senses  that  way  ;  and  'tis  only  your  de 
sire  that  keeps  my  books  open.  I  would  far  rather 
read  my  Plutarch,  or  write  with  my  sword." 

"  Let  me  tell  you,  soberly,  that  it  is  a  matter  of 
personal  interest  to  you.  There  is  now  no  ques 
tion  of  the  law  as  a  profession,  for  since  your 
cousin's  death  your  prospects  have  entirely  changed. 
But  consider,  George,  that  not  only  this  estate, 
but  also  the  estate  of  your  Grandfather  Van  Heems- 
kirk  must  eventually  come  to  you.  Much  of 


64         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

both  has  been  bought  from  confiscated  properties, 
and  it  is  not  improbable  that  claimants  may  arise 
who  will  cause  you  trouble.  How  necessary,  then, 
that  you  should  know  something  of  the  laws  af 
fecting  land  and  property  in  this  country." 

"  My  grandfather  is  in  trouble.  I  forgot  to  tell 
you  last  night,  that  his  friend,  Elder  Semple,  is 
dead." 

"  Dead ! " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

For  a  few  minutes  General  Hyde  remained  si 
lent  ;  then  he  said  with  much  feeling,  "  Peace  to 
the  old  Tory  !  He  was  once  very  kind  to  me  and 
to  my  family.  Ah,  George,  I  have  again  defrauded 
myself  of  a  satisfaction  !  For  a  long  time  I  have 
intended  to  go  and  see  him — it  is  now  too  late ! 
But  I  will  return  to  the  city  with  you  and  pay  him 
the  last  respect  possible.  Who  told  you  this 
news  ?  " 

"  I  was  walking  on  Broadway  with  young  Mc 
Allister,  and  Doctor  Moran  stopped  us  and  sent 
word  to  Elder  McAllister  of  the  death  of  his 
friend.  I  think,  indeed,  they  were  relatives." 

"  Was  Doctor  Moran  his  physician  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  A  very  good  physician,  I  believe ; 
I  know,  that  he  is  a  very  courteous  and  entertain 
ing  gentleman." 

"  And  pray,  George,  how  do  you  come  by  such 
an  opinion  ?  " 

"  I   had  the  honour  of  spending  an  evening  at 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     65 

Doctor  Moran's  house  this  week ;  and  if  you  will 
believe  me,  sir,  he  has  a  daughter  that  shames 
every  other  beauty.  Such  bewildering  loveliness  ! 
Such  entrancing  freshness  and  purity  I  never  saw 
before  !  " 

"  In  love  again,  George.  Faith,  you  make  me 
ashamed  of  my  own  youth  !  But  this  enchanting 
creature  cannot  make  of  her  father — anything  but 
what  he  is." 

"This  time  I  am  desperately,  and  really,  in 
love." 

"  So  you  were  with  Mollie  Trefuses,  with  Sarah 
Talbot,  with  Eliza  Capel,  with  Matilda  Howard — 
and  a  galaxy  of  minor  beauties." 

"  But  it  has  come  to  this — I  wish  to  marry  Miss 
Moran ;  and  I  never  wished  to  marry  any  other 
woman." 

u  You  have  forgotten And  by  Heaven  !  you 

must  forget  Miss  Moran.  She  is  not  to  be  thought 
of  as  a  wife — for  one  moment." 

u  Sir,  you  are  not  so  unjust  as  to  make  such  a 
statement  without  giving  me  a  reason  for  it." 

"  Giving  you  a  reason  !  My  reason  ought  to 
have  sprung  up  voluntary  in  your  own  heart.  It 
is  an  incredible  thing  if  you  are  not  already  familiar 
with  it." 

a  Simply,  sir,  I  profess  my  ignorance." 

u  Look  around  you.  Look  east,  and  west,  and 
north,  and  south, — all  these  rich  lands  were  bought 
with  your  Uncle  William's  money.  He  made 


66         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

himself  poor,  to  make  me  rich  ;  because,  having 
brought  me  up  as  his  heir,  he  thought  his  marriage 
late  in  life  had  in  a  manner  defrauded  me.  You 
know  that  the  death  of  his  two  sons  has  again 
made  me  the  heir  to  the  Hyde  earldom ;  and  that 
after  me,  the  succession  is  yours.  Tell  me  now 
what  child  is  left  to  your  uncle  ? " 

"  Only  his  daughter  Annie,  a  girl  of  fourteen  or 
fifteen  years." 

"  What  will  become  of  her  when  her  father 
dies  ? " 

"  Sir,  how  can  I  divine  her  future  ?  " 

"  It  is  your  duty  to  divine  her  future.  Her 
father  has  no  gold  to  leave  her — he  gave  it  to  me 
— and  the  land  he  cannot  leave  her ;  yet  she  has  a 
natural  right,  beyond  either  mine  or  yours." 

u  I  give  her  my  right,  cheerfully." 

"You  cannot  give  it  to  her — unless  you  outlaw 
yourself  from  your  native  country — strip  yourself 
of  your  citizenship — declare  yourself  unworthy  to 
be  a  son  of  the  land  that  gave  you  birth.  Even  if 
you  perpetrated  such  a  civil  crime,  you  would 
render  no  service  to  Annie.  Your  right  would 
simply  lapse  to  the  son  of  Herbert  Hyde — the 
young  man  you  met  at  Oxford " 

"Surely,  sir,  we  need  not  talk  of  that  fellow.  I 
have  already  told  you  what  a  very  sycophant  he  is. 
He  licks  the  dust  before  any  man  of  wealth  or 
authority ;  his  tongue  hangs  down  to  his  shoe- 
buckles." 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     67 

"  Well  then,  sir,  what  is  your  duty  to  Annie 
Hyde?" 

"  I  do  not  conceive  myself  to  have  any  special 
duty  to  Annie  Hyde." 

"  Upon  my  honour,  you  are  then  perversely 
stupid  !  But  it  is  impossible  that  you  do  not  realize 
what  justice,  honour,  gratitude  and  generosity  de 
mand  from  you !  When  your  uncle  wrote  me 
that  pitiful  letter  which  informed  me  of  the  death 
of  his  last  son,  my  first  thought  was  that  his 
daughter  must  be  assured  her  right  in  the  suc 
cession.  There  is  one  way  to  compass  this.  You 
know  what  that  way  is. — Why  do  you  not 
speak  ? " 

"  Because,  sir,  if  I  confess  your  evident  opinion 
to  be  just,  I  bind  myself  to  carry  it  out,  because  of 
its  justice." 

u  Is  it  not  just  ?  " 

"  It  might  be  just  to  Annie  and  very  unjust  to 
me." 

"  No,  sir.  Justice  is  a  thing  absolute  ;  it  is  not 
altered  by  circumstances,  especially  for  a  circum 
stance  so  trivial  as  a  young  man's  idle  fancy." 

"  'Tis  no  idle  fancy.     I  love  Cornelia  Moran." 

"You  have  already  loved  a  score  of  beauties  — 
and  forgotten  them." 

"  I  have  admired,  and  forgot.  If  I  had  loved,  I 
should  not  have  forgotten.  Now,  I  love." 

"  Then,  sir,  be  a  man,  a  noble  man,  and  put  your 
personal  gratification  below  justice,  honour,  and 


68         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

gratitude.  This  is  the  first  real  trial  of  your  life, 
George,  are  you  going  to  play  the  coward  in  it  ? " 

u  If  you  could  only  see  Miss  Moran !  " 

"  I  should  find  it  difficult  to  be  civil  to  her. 
George,  I  put  before  you  a  duty  that  no  gentleman 
can  by  any  possibility  evade." 

"  If  this  arrangement  is  so  important,  why  was 
I  not  told  of  it,  ere  this  ?  " 

"  It  is  scarcely  a  year  since  your  Cousin  Harry's 
death.  Annie  is  not  fifteen  years  old.  I  did  not 
wish  to  force  matters.  I  intended  you  to  go  to 
England  next  year,  and  I  hoped  that  a  marriage 
might  come  without  my  advice  or  my  interference. 
It  seemed  to  me  that  Annie's  position  would  itself 
open  your  heart  to  her." 

"  I  have  no  heart  to  give  her." 

"  Then  you  must  at  least  give  her  your  hand.  I 
myself  proposed  this  arrangement,  and  your  uncle's 
pleasure  and  gratitude  were  of  the  most  touching 
kind.  Further,  if  you  will  have  the  very  truth, 
then  know,  that  under  no  circumstances,  will  I 
sanction  a  marriage  with  Doctor  Moran's  daugh 
ter." 

"  You  cannot  possibly  object  to  her,  sir.  She  is 
perfection  itself." 

"  I  object  to  her  in-toto.  I  detest  Doctor  Moran, 
personally.  I  know  not  why,  nor  care  wherefore. 
I  detest  him  still  more  sincerely  as  a  man  of 
French  extraction.  I  was  brought  very  much  in 
contact  with  him  for  three  years,  and  if  we  had 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     69 

not  been  in  camp,  and  under  arms,  I  would  have 
challenged  him  a  score  of  times.  He  is  the  most 
offensive  of  men.  He  brought  his  race  prejudices 
continually  to  the  front.  When  Lafayette  was 
wounded,  with  some  of  his  bragging  company, 
nothing  would  do  but  Doctor  Moran  must  go  with 
them  to  the  hospital  at  Bethlehem ;  yes,  and  stay 
there,  until  the  precious  marquis  was  out  of 
danger.  I'll  swear  that  he  would  not  have  done 
this  for  Washington — he  would  have  blustered 
about  the  poor  fellows  lying  sick  in  camp.  Moran 
talks  about  being  an  American,  and  the  Frenchman 
crops  out  at  every  corner.  But  he  is  neither  here, 
nor  there,  in  our  affairs ;  what  I  wish  you  to  re 
member  is,  that  rank  has  its  duties  as  well  as  its 
privileges;  and  you  would  be  a  poltroon  to  accept 
one  and  ignore  the  other.  What  are  you  going  to 
do  ?  " 

"  I  know  not.     I  must  think " 

"  I  am  ashamed  of  you  !  In  the  name  of  all 
that  is  honourable,  what  is  there  to  think  about  ? 
Have  you  told  this  Miss  Moran  that  you  love 
her  ? " 

"  Not  in  precise  words.  I  have  only  seen  her 
three  or  four  times.'* 

"Then,  sir,  you  have  only  yourself  to  think 
about.  Have  I  a  son  with  so  little  proper  feeling 
that  he  needs  to  think  a  moment  when  the  case  is 
between  honour  and  himself?  George,  it  is  high 
time  that  you  set  out  to  travel.  In  the  neighbour- 


70         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

hood  of  your  mother,  and  your  grandparents,  and 
your  flatterers  in  the  city,  you  never  get  beyond 
the  atmosphere  of  your  own  whims  and  fancies. 
This  conversation  has  come  sooner  than  I  wished ; 
but  after  it,  there  is  nothing  worth  talking  about." 

"  Sir,  you  are  more  cruel  and  unreasonable  than 
I  could  believe  possible." 

"The  railings  of  a  losing  lover  are  not  worth 
answering.  Give  your  anger  sway,  and  when  you 
are  reasonable  again,  tell  me.  A  man  mad  in  love 
has  some  title  to  my  pity." 

u  And,  sir,  if  you  were  any  other  man  but  my 
father,  I  would  say  c  Confound  your  pity  ! '  I  am 
not  sensible  of  deserving  it,  except  as  the  result  of 

your  own  unreasonable  demands  on  me Our 

conversation  is  extremely  unpleasant,  and  I  desire 
to  put  an  end  to  it.  Permit  me  to  return  to  the 
house." 

u  With  all  my  heart.  But  let  me  advise  you  to 
say  nothing  to  your  mother,  at  present,  on  this  sub 
ject :"  then  with  an  air  of  dejection  he  added — 
"  What  is  past,  must  go ;  and  whatever  is  to  come 
is  very  sure  to  happen." 

"  Sir,  nothing  past,  present,  or  future,  can  change 
me.  I  shall  obey  the  wishes  of  my  heart,  and  be 
true  to  its  love." 

"  Let  me  tell  you,  George,  that  Love  is  now 
grown  wise.  He  follows  Fortune." 

"  Good-morning,  sir." 

"  Let   it  be   so.     I   will   see  you  to-morrow  in 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion      71 

town.  Ten  to  one,  you  will  be  more  reasonable 
then." 

He  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  roadway  watching 
his  son's  angry  carriage.  The  poise  of  his  head, 
and  his  rapid,  uneven  steps,  were  symptoms  the 
anxious  father  understood  very  well.  "  He  is  in  a 
naked  temper,  without  even  civil  disguise,"  he 
muttered ;  "  and  I  hope  his  own  company  will  sat 
isfy  him  until  the  first  fever  is  past.  Do  I  not 
know  that  to  be  in  love  is  to  be  possessed  ?  It  is  in 
the  head — the  heart — the  blood — it  is  indeed  an 
uncontrollable  fever !  I  hope,  first  and  foremost, 
that  he  will  keep  away  from  his  mother  in  his  pres 
ent  unreason." 

His  mother  was,  however,  George's  first  desire. 
He  did  not  believe  she  would  sanction  his  sacrifice 
to  Annie  Hyde.  Justice,  honour,  gratitude  !  these 
were  fine  names  of  his  father's  invention  to  adorn 
a  ceremony  which  would  celebrate  his  life-long 
misery,  and  he  rebelled  against  such  an  immolation 
of  his  youth  and  happiness.  When  he  reached 
the  house,  he  found  that  his  mother  had  gone  to 
the  pond  to  feed  her  swans  ;  and  he  decided  to  ride 
a  little  out  of  his  way  in  order  to  see  her  there. 
Presently  he  came  to  a  spot  where  tall,  shadowing 
pines  surrounded  a  large  sheet  of  water,  dipping 
their  lowest  branches  into  it.  Mrs.  Hyde  stood 
among  them,  and  the  white,  stately  birds  were 
crowding  to  her  very  feet.  He  reined  in  his  horse 
to  watch  her,  and  though  accustomed  to  her  beauty, 


72          The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

he  marvelled  again  at  it.  Like  a  sylvan  goddess 
she  stood,  divinely  tall,  and  divinely  fair  ;  her  whole 
presence  suffused  with  a  heavenly  serenity  and  hap 
piness  !  Upon  the  soft  earth  the  hoofs  of  his  horse 
had  not  been  audible,  but  when  he  came  within  her 
sight,  it  was  wonderful  to  watch  the  transformation 
on  her  countenance.  A  great  love,  a  great  joy, 
swept  away  like  a  gust  of  wind,  the  peace  on  its 
surface;  and  a  glowing,  loving  intelligence  made 
her  instantly  restless.  She  called  him  with  sweet 
imperiousness,  "  George  !  Joris  !  Joris  !  My  dear 
one  !  "  and  he  answered  her  with  the  one  word 
ever  near,  and  ever  dear,  to  a  woman's  heart — 
"  Mother  /  " 

"  I  thought  you  were  with  your  father.  Where 
have  you  left  him  ?  " 

u  In  the  wilderness.  There  is  need  for  me  to 
go  to  the  city.  My  father  will  tell  you  why.  I 
come  only  to  see  you — to  kiss  you " 

"Joris,  I  see  that  you  are  angry.  Well  then, 
my  dear  one,  what  is  it  ?  What  has  your  father 
been  saying  to  you  ?  " 

"  He  will  tell  you." 

"&/  Whatever  it  is,  your  part  I  shall  take. 
Right  or  wrong,  your  part  I  shall  take." 

"  There  is  nothing  wrong,  dear  mother." 

"  Money,  is  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  money.  My  father  is  generous  to 
me." 

"  Then,  some  woman  it  is  ?  " 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     73 

"  Kiss  me,  mother.  After  all,  there  is  no  woman 
like  unto  you." 

She  drew  close  to  him,  and  he  stooped  his  hand 
some  face  to  hers,  and  kissed  her  many  times. 
Her  smile  comforted  him,  for  it  was  full  of  confi 
dence,  as  she  said  — 

"  Trouble  not  yourself,  Joris.  At  the  last,  your 
father  sees  through  my  eyes.  Must  you  go  ?  Well 
th.en,  the  Best  of  Beings  go  with  you  !  " 

u  When  are  you  coming  to  town,  mother  ?  " 

"Next  week.  There  is  a  dinner  party  at  the 
President's,  and  your  father  will  not  be  absent — 
nor  I — nor  you  ?  " 

"If  I  am  invited,  I  shall  go,  just  that  I  may  see 
you  enter  the  room.  Let  me  tell  you,  that  sight 
always  fills  my  heart  with  a  tumultuous  pride  and 
love." 

"  A  great  flatterer  are  you,  Joris  !  "  but  she  lifted 
her  face  again,  and  George  kissed  it,  and  then  rode 
rapidly  away. 

He  hardly  drew  rein  until  he  reached  his  grand 
father's  house,  a  handsome  Dutch  residence,  built 
of  yellow  brick,  and  standing  in  a  garden  that  was, 
at  this  season,  a  glory  of  tulips  and  daffodils,  hya 
cinths  and  narcisses — the  splendid  colouring  of  the 
beds  being  wonderfully  increased  by  their  border- 
ings  of  clipped  box.  An  air  of  sunshiny  peace 
was  over  the  place,  and  as  the  upper-half  of  the 
side-door  stood  open  he  tied  his  horse  and  went  in. 
The  ticking  of  the  tall  house-clock  was  the  only 


74         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

sound  he  heard  at  first,  but  as  he  stood  irresolute,  a 
sweet,  thin  voice  in  an  adjoining  room  began  to 
sing  a  hymn. 

"  Grandmother  !  Grandmother  !  !  Grand 
mother ! !  !  "  he  called,  and  before  the  last  ap 
peal  was  echoed  the  old  lady  appeared.  She 
came  forward  rapidly,  her  knitting  in  her  hand. 
She  was  singularly  bright  and  alert,  with  rosy 
cheeks,  and  snow-white  hair  under  a  snow-white 
cap  of  clear-starched  lace.  A  snow-white  kerchief 
of  lawn  was  crossed  over  her  breast,  and  the  rest 
of  her  dress  was  so  perfectly  Dutch  that  she  might 
have  stepped  out  of  one  of  Tenier's  pictures. 

"  Oh,  my  Joris  !  "  she  cried,  "  Joris  !  Joris  !  I 
am  so  happy  to  see  thee.  But  what,  then,  is  the 
matter  ?  Thy  eyes  are  full  of  trouble." 

"I  will  tell  you,  grandmother."  And  he  sat 
down  by  her  side  and  went  over  the  conversation 
he  had  had  with  his  father.  She  never  interrupted 
him,  but  he  knew  by  the  rapid  clicking  of  her 
knitting  needles  that  she  was  moved  far  beyond 
her  usual  quietude.  When  he  ceased  speaking, 
she  answered  — 

"  To  sell  thee,  Joris,  is  a  great  shame,  and  for 
nothing  to  sell  thee  is  still  worse.  This  is  what  I 
think :  Let  half  of  the  income  from  the  earldom  go 
to  the  poor  young  lady,  but  thyself  into  the  bargain, 
is  beyond  all  reason.  And  if  with  Cornelia  Moran 
thou  art  in  love,  a  good  thing  it  is ; — so  I  say." 

"  Do  you  know  Cornelia,  grandmother  ?  " 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     75 

"  Well,  then,  I  have  seen  her ;  more  than  once. 
A  great  beauty  I  think  her ;  and  Doctor  John  has 
money — plenty  of  money — and  a  very  good  family 
are  the  Morans.  I  remember  his  father — a  very 
fine  gentleman." 

"  But  my  father  hates  Doctor  Moran." 

"Very  wicked  is  he  to  hate  any  one.  Why, 
then  ? " 

u  He  gave  me  only  one  reason — that  his  family 
is  French." 

"So!  Thy  mother  was  Dutch.  Every  one 
cannot  be  English — a  God's  mercy  they  cannot ! 
Now,  then,  thy  grandfather  is  coming  ;  thy  trouble 
tell  to  him.  Good  advice  he  will  give  thee." 

Senator  Van  Heemskirk  however  went  first  into 
his  garden  and  gathering  great  handfuls  of  white 
narcisses  and  golden  daffodils,  he  called  a  slave 
woman  and  bade  her  carry  them  to  the  Semple 
house,  and  lay  them  in,  and  around,  his  friend's 
coffin.  One  white  lily  he  kept  in  his  hand  as  he 
came  towards  his  wife  and  grandson,  with  eyes 
fixed  on  its  beauty. 

"  Lysbet,"  he  said, — but  he  clasped  George's 
hand  as  he  spoke — "  My  Lysbet,  if  in  the  Dead 
Valley  of  this  earth  grow  such  heavenly  flowers  as 
this,  we  will  not  fear  the  grave.  It  is  only  to 
sleep  on  the  breast  that  gives  us  the  lily  and  the 
rose,  and  the  wheat,  and  the  corn.  Oh,  how  sweet 
is  this  flower!  It  has  the  scent  of  Paradise." 

He  laid  it  gently  down  while  he  put  off  his  fine 


76         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

broadcloth  coat  and  lace  ruffles  and  assumed  the 
long  vest  and  silk  skull  cap,  which  was  his  home 
dress ;  then  he  put  it  in  a  buttonhole  of  his  vest, 
and  seemed  to  joy  himself  in  its  delicate  fragrance. 
With  these  preliminaries  neither  Jons  nor  Lysbet 
interfered  ;  but  when  he  had  lit  his  long  pipe  and 
seated  himself  comfortably  in  his  chair,  Lysbet 
said  — 

"  Where  hast  thou  been  all  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  sealing  up  my  friend's  desk  and 
drawers  until  his  sons  arrive.  Very  happy  he 
looks.  He  is  now  one  of  those  that  know" 

"Well,  then,  after  the  long  strife,  c  He  Rests.'  " 

"  Men  have  written  it.  What  know  they  about 
it  ?  Rest  would  not  be  heaven  to  my  friend 
Alexander  Semple.  To  work,  to  be  up  and  doing 
His  Will,  that  would  be  his  delight." 

"  I  wonder,  Joris,  if  in  the  next  life  we  shall 
know  each  other  ?  " 

"  My  Lysbet,  in  this  life  do  we  know  each 
other  ?  " 

u  I  think  not.  Here  has  come  our  dear  Joris 
full  of  trouble  to  thee,  for  his  father  has  said  such 
things  as  I  could  not  have  believed.  Joris,  tell 
thy  grandfather  what  they  are." 

And  this  time  George,  being  very  sure  of  hearty 
sympathy,  told  his  tale  with  great  feeling — perhaps 
even  with  a  little  anger.  His  grandfather  listened 
patiently  to  the  youth's  impatience,  but  he  did  not 
answer  exactly  to  his  expectations. 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     77 

"  My  Joris,"  he  said,  "  so  hard  it  is  to  accept 
what  goes  against  our  wishes.  If  Cornelia  Moran 
you  had  not  met,  would  your  father's  desires  be  so 
impossible  to  you  ?  Noble  and  generous  would 
they  not  seem " 

"  But  I  have  seen  Cornelia,  and  I  love  her." 

u  Two  or  three  times  you  have  seen  her.  How 
can  you  be  sure  that  you  love  her  ?  " 

"  In  the  first  hour  I  was  sure." 

"  Of  nothing  are  we  quite  sure.  In  too  great  a 
hurry  are  you.  Miss  Moran  may  not  love  you. 
She  may  refuse  ever  to  love  you.  Her  mind  you 
have  not  asked.  Beside  this,  in  his  family  her 
father  may  not  wish  you.  A  very  proud  man  is 
Doctor  John." 

"  Grandfather,  I  may  be  an  earl  some  day." 

"  An  English  earl.  Doctor  John  may  not  endure 
to  think  of  his  only  child  living  in  that  far-off 
country.  I,  myself,  know  how  this  thought  can 
work  a  father  to  madness.  And,  again,  your 
Cousin  Annie  may  not  wish  to  marry  you." 

"  Faith,  sir,  I  had  not  thought  of  myself  as  so 
very  disagreeable." 

u  No.  Vain  and  self-confident  is  a  young  man. 
See,  then,  how  many  things  may  work  this  way, 
that  way,  and  if  wise  you  are  you  will  be  quiet  and 
wait  for  events.  One  thing,  move  not  in  your 
anger ;  it  is  like  putting  to  sea  in  a  tempest.  Now 
I  shall  just  say  a  word  or  two  on  the  other  side. 
If  your  father  is  so  set  in  his  mind  about  the 


78         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

Hydes,  let  him  do  the  justice  to  them  he  wishes  to 
do ;  but  it  is  not  right  that  he  should  make  you  do 
it  for  him." 

"  He  says  that  only  I  can  give  Annie  justice." 

"  But  that  is  not  good  sense.  When  the  pres 
ent  Earl  dies,  and  she  is  left  an  orphan,  who  shall 
prevent  your  father  from  adopting  her  as  his  own 
daughter,  and  leaving  her  a  daughter's  portion  of 
the  estate  ?  In  such  case,  she  would  be  in  exactly 
the  same  position  as  if  her  brother  had  lived  and 
become  earl.  Is  not  that  so  ?  " 

"  My  dear,  dear  grandfather,  you  carry  wisdom 
with  you !  Now  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  pro 
pose  to  my  father  that  he  do  his  own  justice  ! 
O  wise,  wise  grandfather  !  You  have  made  me 
happy  to  a  degree  !  " 

"  Very  well,  but  say  not  that  /  gave  you  such 
counsel.  When  your  father  speaks  to  me,  as  he 
is  certain  to  do,  then  I  will  say  such  and  such 
words  to  him ;  but  my  words  in  your  mouth  will 
be  a  great  offence  ;  and  very  justly  so,  for  it  is 
hard  to  carry  words,  and  carry  nothing  else.  Your 
dear  mother — how  is  she  ?  " 

"  Well  and  happy.  She  builds,  and  she  plants, 
and  the  days  are  too  short  for  her.  But  my  father 
is  not  so  happy.  I  can  see  that  he  is  wearied  of 
everything." 

"  Not  here,  is  his  heart.  It  is  in  England.  And 
no  longer  has  he  great  hopes  to  keep  him  young. 
If  of  Liberty  I  now  speak  to  him,  he  has  a  smile 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     79 

so  hopeless  that  both  sad  and  angry  it  makes  me. 
No  faith  has  he  left  in  any  man,  except  Washing 
ton  ;  and  I  think,  also,  he  is  disappointed  that  Wash 
ington  was  not  crowned  King  George  the  First." 

u  I  can  assure  you,  sir,  that  others  share  his  dis 
appointment.  Mr.  Adams  would  not  object  to  be 
Duke  of  New  York,  and  even  little  Burr  would 
like  a  lordship." 

"  I  have  heard ;  my  ears  are  not  dull,  nor  my 
eyes  blind.  But  too  much  out  of  the  world  lives 
your  father  ;  men  who  do  so  grow  unfit  to  live  in 
the  world.  He  dreams  dreams  impossible  to  us — 
impossible  to  France — and  then  he  says  '  Liberty 
is  a  dream.'  Well,  well,  Life  also  is  a  dream — 
when  we  awake " 

Then  he  ceased  speaking,  and  there  was  silence 
until  Lysbet  Van  Heemskirk  said,  softly,  "  When 
we  awake,  we  shall  be  satisfied" 

Van  Heemskirk  smiled  at  his  wife's  cheerful  as 
surance,  and  continued,  "  It  is  true,  Lysbet,  what 
you  say ;  and  even  here,  in  our  dreaming,  what 
satisfaction  !  As  for  me,  I  expect  not  too  much. 
The  old  order  and  the  new  order  fight  yet  for  the 
victory ;  and  what  passes  now  will  be  worth  talk 
ing  about  fifty  years  hence." 

"  It  is  said,  grandfather,  that  the  Dutch  church 
is  anti-Federal  to  a  man." 

"  Not  true  are  such  sayings.  The  church  will 
be  very  like  old  Van  Steenwyck,  who  boasts  of 
his  impartiality,  and  who  votes  for  the  Federals 


80         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

once,  and  for  the  anti-Federals  once,  and  the  third 
time  does  not  vote  at  all.  If  taken  was  the  vote  of 
the  Church,  it  would  be  six  for  the  Federals  and 
half-a-dozen  for  the  anti-Federals." 

"Mr.  Burr " 

"  Of  Mr.  Burr  I  will  not  talk.  I  like  not  his 
little  dirty  politics." 

"  He  is  very  clever." 

"  Well,  then,  you  have  to  praise  him  for  being 
clever ;  for  being  honest  you  cannot  praise  him." 

"  'Tis  a  monstrous  pity  that  Right  can  only  be 
on  one  side;  yet  sometimes  Right  and  Mr.  Burr 
may  happen  to  be  on  the  same  side." 

"  The  right  way  is  too  straight  for  Aaron  Burr. 
If  into  it  he  wanders  'tis  for  a  wrong  reason." 

u  My  dear  grandfather,  how  your  words  bite  !  " 

"  I  wish  not  to  say  biting  things ;  but  Aaron 
Burr  stands  for  those  politicians  who  turn  patriot 
ism  into  shopkeeping  and  their  own  interest — men 
who  care  far  more  for  who  governs  us  than  for  bow 
we  are  governed.  And  what  will  be  the  end  of 
such  ways  ?  I  will  tell  you.  We  shall  have  a 
Democracy  that  will  be  the  reign  of  those  who 
know  the  least  and  talk  the  loudest." 

At  this  point  in  the  conversation  Van  Heems- 
kirk  was  called  to  the  door  about  some  business 
matter  and  George  was  left  alone  with  his  grand 
mother.  She  was  setting  the  tea-table,  and  her 
hands  were  full  of  china ;  but  she  put  the  cups 
quickly  down,  and  going  to  George's  side,  said  — 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     81 

"  Cornelia  Moran  spends  this  evening  with  her 
friend  Arenta  Van  Ariens.  Well  then,  would  thou 
like  an  excuse  to  call  on  Arenta  ?  " 

u  Oh,  grandmother !  Do  you  indeed  know 
Arenta  ?  Can  you  send  me  there  ?  " 

u  Since  she  was  one  month  old  I  have  known 
Arenta.  This  morning,  she  came  here  to  borrow 
for  her  Aunt  Jacobus  my  ivory  winders.  Now 
then,  I  did  not  wish  to  lend  Angelica  Jacobus  my 
winders  ;  and  I  said  to  Arenta  that  '  by  and  by  I 
would  look  for  them.'  Not  far  are  they  to  seek  ; 
and  for  thy  pleasure  I  will  get  them,  and  thou  canst 
take  them  this  evening  to  Arenta." 

"  O  you  dear,  dear  grandmother !  "  and  he  stood 
up,  and  lifted  her  rosy  face  between  his  hands  and 
kissed  her. 

"  I  am  so  fond  of  thee,"  she  continued.  "  I  love 
thee  so  much  ;  and  thy  pleasure  is  my  pleasure  ; 
and  I  see  no  harm — no  harm  at  all — in  thy  love 
for  the  beautiful  Cornelia.  I  think,  with  thee,  she 
is  a  girl  worth  any  man's  heart ;  and  if  thou 
canst  win  her,  I,  for  one,  will  be  joyful  with  thee. 
Perhaps,  though,  I  am  a  selfish  old  woman — it  is 
so  easy  to  be  selfish." 

"  Let  me  tell  you,  grandmother,  you  know  not 
how  to  be  selfish." 

"  Let  me  tell  thee,  Joris,  I  was  thinking  of  my 
self,  as  well  as  of  thee.  For  while  thy  grand 
father  talked  of  Aaron  Burr,  this  thought  came 
into  my  mind — if  to  Annie  Hyde  my  Joris  is 


82         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

married,  he  will  live  in  England,  and  I  shall  see 
him  no  more  in  this  world.  But  if  to  Cornelia 
Moran  he  is  married,  when  his  father  goes  to  Eng 
land,  then  here  he  will  stay  ;  he  will  live  at  Hyde 
Manor,  and  I  shall  go  to  see  him,  and  he  will  call 
here  to  see  me ; — and  then,  many  good  days  came 
into  my  thoughts.  Yes,  yes,  in  every  kind  thing, 
in  every  good  thing,  somewhere  there  is  hid  a 
little  bit  of  our  own  will  and  way.  Always,  if  I 
look  with  straight  eyes,  I  can  find  it." 

u  Get  me  the  winders,  grandmother  j  for  now 
you  have  given  me  a  reason  to  hurry." 

"  But  why  so  quickly  must  you  go  ? " 

"  Look  at  me  !  It  will  take  me  two  hours  to 
dress.  1  have  had  no  dinner — I  want  to  think — 
you  understand,  grandmother  ?  " 

Then  she  went  into  the  best  parlour,  and  open 
ing  one  of  the  shutters  let  in  sufficient  light  to  find 
in  the  drawer  of  a  little  Chinese  cabinet  some  ivory 
winders  of  very  curious  design  and  workmanship. 
She  folded  them  in  soft  tissue  paper  and  handed 
them  to  her  grandson  with  a  pleasant  nod ;  and  the 
young  man  slipped  them  into  his  waistcoat  pocket, 
and  then  went  hurriedly  away. 

He  had  spoken  of  his  dinner,  but  though  some 
what  hungry,  he  made  but  a  light  meal.  His  dress 
seemed  to  him  the  most  vitally  important  thing  of 
the  hour ;  and  no  girl  choosing  her  first  ball  gown 
could  have  felt  more  anxious  and  critical  on  the 
subject.  His  call  was  to  be  considered  an  acci- 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     83 

dental  one ;  and  he  could  not  therefore  dress  as 
splendidly  as  if  it  were  a  ceremonious  or  expected 
visit.  After  much  hesitation,  he  selected  a  coat 
and  breeches  of  black  velvet,  a  pearl-coloured  vest, 
and  cravat  and  ruffles  of  fine  English  bone  lace. 
Yet  when  his  toilet  was  completed,  he  was  dissat 
isfied.  He  felt  sure  more  splendid  apparel  set  off 
his  dark  beauty  to  greater  advantage  ;  and  yet  he 
was  equally  sure  that  more  splendid  apparel  would 
not — on  this  occasion — be  as  suitable. 

Doubting  and  hoping,  he  reached  the  Van 
Ariens'  house  soon  after  seven  o'clock.  It  was 
not  quite  dark,  and  Jacob  Van  Ariens  stood  on  the 
stoop,  smoking  his  pipe  and  talking  to  a  man  who 
had  the  appearance  of  a  workman ;  and  who  was, 
in  fact,  the  foreman  of  his  business  quarters  in  the 
Swamp. 

"  Good-evening,  sir,"  said  George  with  smiling 
politeness.  "  Is  Miss  Van  Ariens  within  ?  " 

"  Within  ?  Yes.  But  company  she  has  to 
night,"  said  the  watchful  father,  as  he  stood  sus 
picious  and  immovable  in  the  entrance. 

It  did  not  seem  to  George  as  if  it  would  be  an 
easy  thing  to  pass  such  a  porter  at  the  door,  but  he 
continued, 

14 1  have  come  with  a  message  to  Miss  Van 
Ariens." 

44  A  very  fine  messenger  !  "  answered  Van  Ariens, 
slightly  smiling. 

44  A   fine  lady  deserves  a  fine  messenger.     But, 


84         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

sir,  if  you  will  do  my  errand  for  me,  I  am  content. 
'Tis  from  Madame  Van  Heemskirk " 

"  So  then  ?     That  is  good." 

"  I  am  George  Hyde,  her  grandson,  you  know." 

u  Well  then,  I  did  not  know.  'Tis  near  dark, 
and  I  see  not  as  well  as  once  I  did." 

"  I  have  brought  from  Madame  Van  Heemskirk 
some  ivory  winders  for  Madame  Jacobus." 

"  Come  in,  come  in,  and  tell  my  Arenta  the 
message  thyself.  I  know  nothing  of  such  things. 
Come  in,  I  did  not  think  of  thee  as  my  friend  Van 
Heemskirk' s  grandson.  Welcome  art  thou  !  "  and 
Van  Ariens  himself  opened  the  parlour  door, 
saying, 

"  Arenta,  here  is  George  Hyde.  A  message  he 
brings  for  thy  Aunt  Angelica." 

And  while  these  words  were  being  uttered, 
George  delighted  his  eyes  with  the  vision  of  Cor 
nelia,  who  sat  at  a  small  table  with  some  needle 
work  in  her  hand.  Arenta's  tatting  was  over  her 
foot,  and  she  had  to  remove  it  in  order  to  rise  and 
meet  Hyde.  Rem  sat  idly  fingering  a  pack  of  play 
ing  cards  and  talking  to  Cornelia.  This  situation 
George  took  in  at  a  glance  ;  though  his  sense  of 
sight  was  quite  satisfied  when  it  rested  on  the  lovely 
girl  who  dropped  her  needle  as  he  entered,  for  he 
saw  the  bright  flush  which  overspread  her  face  and 
throat,  and  the  light  of  pleasure  which  so  filled  her 
eyes  that  they  seemed  to  make  her  whole  face 
luminous. 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     85 

In  a  few  moments,  Arenta's  pretty  enthusiasms 
and  welcomes  dissipated  all  constraint,  and  Hyde 
placed  his  chair  among  the  happy  group  and  fell 
easily  into  his  most  charming  mood.  Even  Rem 
could  not  resist  the  atmosphere  of  gaiety  and  real 
enjoyment  that  soon  pervaded  the  room.  They 
sang,  they  played,  they  had  a  game  at  whist,  and 
everything  that  happened  was  in  some  subtle,  secret 
way,  a  vehicle  for  Hyde's  love  to  express  itself. 
Yet  it  was  to  Arenta  he  appeared  to  be  most  at 
tentive  •,  and  Rem  was  good-naturedly  inclined  to 
permit  his  sister  to  be  appropriated,  if  only  he  was 
first  in  the  service  of  Cornelia. 

But  though  Hyde's  attentions  were  so  little  ob 
vious,  Cornelia  was  satisfied.  It  would  have  been 
a  poor  lover  who  could  not  have  said  under  such 
circumstances  u  I  love  you  "  a  hundred  times  over; 
and  George  Hyde  was  not  a  poor  lover.  He  had 
naturally  the  ardent  confidence  and  daring  which 
delight  women,  and  he  had  not  passed  several  sea 
sons  in  the  highest  London  society  without  learn 
ing  all  those  sweet,  occult  ways  of  making  known 
admiration,  which  the  presence  of  others  renders 
both  necessary  and  possible. 

About  half-past  nine,  a  negro  woman  came  with 
Cornelia's  cloak  and  hood.  George  took  them 
from  Arenta's  hand  and  folded  the  warm  circular 
round  Cornelia's  slight  figure ;  and  then  watched  her 
tie  her  pretty  pink  hood,  managing  amid  the  pleas 
ant  stir  of  leave-taking  to  whisper  some  words  that 


86         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

sang  all  night  like  sweetest  music  in  her  heart.  It 
was  Rem,  however,  that  gave  her  his  arm  and  es 
corted  her  to  her  own  door ;  and  with  this  rightful 
privilege  to  his  guest  young  Hyde  was  far  too  gen 
tlemanly  and  just  to  interfere.  However,  even  in 
this  moment  of  seeming  secondary  consideration, 
he  heard  a  few  words  which  gave  him  a  delightful 
assurance  of  coming  satisfaction.  For  as  the  two 
girls  stood  in  the  hall,  Arenta  said  — 

u  You  will  come  over  in  the  morning,  Cor 
nelia  ?  " 

"  I  cannot,"  answered  Cornelia.  u  After 
breakfast,  I  have  to  go  to  Richmond  Hill  with  a 
message  from  my  mother  to  Mrs.  Adams;  and 
though  father  will  drive  me  there  I  shall  most 
likely  have  to  walk  home.  But  I  will  come  to  you 
in  the  afternoon." 

u  Very  well.  Then  in  the  morning  I  will  go  to 
Aunt  Angelica's  with  the  winders.  I  shall  then 
have  some  news  to  tell  you  in  the  afternoon — that 
is,  if  the  town  makes  us  any/' 

And  George,  hearing  these  words,  could  hardly 
control  his  delight.  For  he  was  one  of  Mrs. 
Adams'  favourites,  and  so  much  at  home  in  her 
house  that  he  could  visit  her  at  any  hour  of  the 
day  without  a  ceremonious  invitation.  And  it  im 
mediately  struck  him  that  his  mother  had  often  de 
sired  to  know  how  Mrs.  Adams  fed  her  swans,  and 
also  that  she  had  wished  for  some  seeds  from  her 
laburnum  trees.  These  things  would  make  a 


GEORGE    FOLDED    THE    WARM    CIRCULAR    AROUND    CORNELIA'S 
SLIGHT    FIGURE." 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     87 

valid  excuse  for  an  early  call,  as  Mrs.  Adams 
might  naturally  suppose  he  was  on  his  way  to 
Hyde  Manor. 

He  took  a  merry  leave  of  Arenta,  and  with  his 
mind  full  of  this  plan,  went  directly  to  his  rooms. 
The  Belvedere  Club  was  this  night,  impossible  to 
him.  After  the  angelic  Cornelia,  he  could  not 
take  into  his  consciousness  the  hideous  Marat,  and 
the  savage  orgies  of  the  French  Revolution.  Such 
a  thought  transference  would  be  an  impossible 
profanation.  Indeed,  he  could  consider  no  other 
thing,  but  the  miraculous  fact,  that  Cornelia  was 
going  to  Mrs.  Adams' ;  and  that  it  was  quite  within 
his  power  to  meet  her  there. 

14  'Tis  my  destiny  !  '  Tis  my  happy  destiny  to 
love  her  !  "  he  said  softly  to  himself.  u  Such  an 
adorable  girl !  Such  a  ravishing  beauty  is  not  else 
where  on  this  earth  !  "  And  he  was  not  conscious 
of  any  exaggeration  in  such  language.  Nor  was 
there.  He  was  young,  he  was  rich,  he  had  no 
business  to  consider,  no  sorrow  to  sober  him,  no 
care  of  any  kind  to  mingle  with  the  rapturous 
thoughts  which  his  transported  imagination  and  his 
captivated  heart  blended  with  the  image  of  Cor 
nelia. 

"  I  shall  tell  Mrs.  Adams  how  far  gone  in  love  I 
am,"  he  continued.  "She  is  herself  set  on  that 
clever  little  husband  of  hers ;  and  'tis  said,  theirs 
was  a  love  match,  beyond  all  speculation.  I  shall 
say  to  her, c  Help  me,  madame,  to  an  opportunity  ' ; 


88         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

and  I  think  she  will  not  refuse.  As  for  my  father, 
I  heard  him  this  morning  with  as  much  patience  as 
any  Christian  could  do;  but  I  am  resolved  to 
marry  Cornelia.  I  will  not  give  her  up  ;  not  for 
an  earldom  !  not  for  a  dukedom  !  not  for  the  crown 
of  England  ! " 

And  to  these  thoughts  he  flung  off,  with  a  kind 
of  passion,  his  coat  and  vest.  The  action  was  but 
the  affirmation  of  his  resolve,  a  materialization  of 
his  will.  To  have  used  an  oath  in  connection 
with  Cornelia  would  have  offended  him ;  but  this 
passionate  action  asserted  with  equal  emphasis  his 
unalterable  resolve.  A  tender,  gallant,  courageous 
spirit  possessed  him.  He  was  carried  away  by  the 
feelings  it  inspired  :  and  nobly  so,  for  alas  for  that 
man  who  professes  to  be  in  love  and  is  not  carried 
away  by  his  feelings ;  in  such  case,  he  has  no  feel 
ings  worth  speaking  of! 

Joris  Hyde  allowed  the  sweet  emotions  Cornelia 
had  inspired  to  have,  and  to  hold,  and  to  occupy 
his  whole  being.  His  heart  burned  within  him; 
memories  of  Cornelia  closed  his  eyes,  and  then 
filled  them  with  adorable  visions  of  her  pure,  fresh 
loveliness ;  his  pulses  bounded ;  his  blood  ran 
warm  and  free  as  the  ethereal  ichor  of  the  gods. 
Sleep  was  a  thousand  leagues  away ;  he  was  so 
vivid,  that  the  room  felt  hot ;  and  he  flung  open 
the  casement  and  sat  in  a  beatitude  of  blissful  hopes 
and  imaginations. 

And  after  midnight,  when  dreams  fall,  the  moon 


Throwing  Things  into  Confusion     89 

came  up  over  Nassau  and  Cedar  Streets  and  threw 
poetic  glamours  over  the  antique  churches,  and 
grassy  graveyards,  and  the  pretty  houses,  covered 
with  vines  and  budding  rosebushes ;  and  this  soft 
shadow  of  light  calmed  and  charmed  him.  In  it, 
he  could  believe  all  his  dreams  possible.  He 
leaned  forward  and  watched  the  silvery  disc,  strug 
gling  in  soft,  white  clouds ;  parting  them,  as  with 
hands,  when  they  formed  in  baffling,  airy  masses  in 
her  way.  And  the  heavenly  traveller  was  not 
silent ;  she  had  a  language  he  understood  ;  for  as 
he  watched  the  sweet,  strong  miracle,  he  said  softly 
to  himself — 

"  It  is  a  sign  to  me  !  It  is  a  sign  !  So  will  I 
put  away  every  baffling  hindrance  between  Cornelia 
and  myself.  Barriers  will  only  be  as  those 
vaporous  clouds.  I  shall  part  them  with  my  strong 
resolves— I  shall— I  shall— I  — "  and  he  fell 
asleep  with  this  sense  of  victory  thrilling  his  whole 
being.  Then  the  moon  rose  higher,  and  soon 
came  in  broad  white  bars  through  the  window  and 
lay  on  his  young,  handsome,  smiling  face,  with  the 
same  sweet  radiance  that  in  the  days  of  the  gods 
glorified  the  beautiful  shepherd,  sleeping  on  the 
Ephesian  plains. 


CHAPTER  V 

TURNING    OVER    A    NEW    LEAF 

WHEN  Hyde  awakened,  he  was  in  that  border 
land  between  dreams  and  day  which  we  call  dawn. 
And  as  the  ear  is  the  last  sense  to  go  to  sleep,  and 
the  first  sense  to  throw  off  its  lethargy,  the  voices 
of  men  calling  "  Milk  Ho  !  "  and  the  shrill  childish 
cries  of  "  Sweep  Ho  !  "  were  the  first  intruders  into 
that  pleasant  condition  between  sleeping  and 
waking,  so  hard  for  any  of  us  to  leave  without  a 
sigh  of  regret.  These  sounds  were  quickly  supple 
mented  by  the  roll  of  the  heavy  carts  which  pur 
veyed  the  only  water  suitable  for  drinking  and  culi 
nary  purposes  ;  and  by  the  sounds  of  wood-sawing 
and  wood-chopping  before  the  doors  of  the  ad 
jacent  houses — sounds  quickly  blending  themselves 
with  the  shuffling  feet  of  the  slaves  cleaning  the 
doorsteps  and  sidewalks,  and  chattering,  singing, 
quarrelling  the  while  with  their  neighbours,  or  with 
other  early  ministers  to  the  city's  domestic  wants. 

These  noises  had  never  before  made  any  impres 
sion  on  him.  "  I  am  more  alive  than  ever  I  was 
in  my  life,"  he  said ;  and  he  laughed  gayly,  and 
went  to  the  window.  "  It  is  a  lovely  day ;  and 
that  is  so  much  in  my  favour,"  he  added,  "  for  if 
it  were  raining,  Cornelia  would  not  leave  the 
90 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf          91 

house."  Then  a  big  man,  with  a  voice  like  a  bull 
of  Bashan,  went  down  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street,  shouting  as  he  went — u  Milk  Ho  !  "  and 
Hyde  considered  him.  He  had  a  heavy  wooden 
yoke  across  his  shoulders;  and  large  tin  pails,  full 
of  milk,  hanging  from  it. 

u  How  English  we  are  !  "  he  exclaimed,  with  a 
touch  of  irony.  "We  have  not  thrown  off  the 
yoke,  by  any  means — at  Mr.  Adams',  for  instance, 
I  could  believe  myself  in  England.  How  exclu 
sive  is  the  pompous  little  Minister  !  What  respect 
for  office  !  What  adoration  for  landed  gentry  ! 
What  supercilious  tolerance  for  tradesmen  !  Oh, 
indeed,  it  confounds  me  !  But  why  should  I  trou 
ble  myself?  I,  who  have  the  most  adorable  mis 
tress  in  the  world  to  think  about  !  What  are  the 
kings,  presidents,  ministers,  knaves  of  the  world  to 
me  ?  Let  Destiny  shuffle  them  back  and  forth.  I 
am  indifferent  to  whichever  is  trumps." 

Then  he  fell  into  a  reverie  about  his  proposed 
visit  to  Mrs.  Adams.  Last  night  it  had  appeared 
to  him  an  easy  and  natural  thing  to  do.  He  was 
not  so  sure  of  his  position  this  morning.  Mr. 
Adams  might  be  present;  he  was  punctilious  in 
the  extreme,  and  a  call  without  an  invitation  at 
that  early  hour  might  be  considered  an  imperti 
nence — especially  if  he  had  no  opportunity  to  en 
lighten  Mrs.  Adams  about  his  love  for  Miss 
Moran,  and  so  ask  her  assistance.  Then  he  be 
gan  to  doubt  whether  his  mother  was  on  sufficient 


gi          The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

terms  of  intimacy  to  warrant  his  speaking  about 
the  swans  and  laburnum  seeds — in  short,  the  visit 
that  had  seemed  so  natural  and  proper  when  he 
first  conceived  it,  assumed,  on  reflection,  an  aspect 
of  difficulty  and  almost  of  impropriety. 

But  there  are  times  when  laissez-aller  carries  all 
before  it,  and  Hyde  was  in  just  such  a  mood. 
"  I'll  run  the  chance,"  he  said.  "  I'll  risk  it.  I'll 
let  things  take  their  course."  Then  he  began  to 
dress,  and  as  doubt  of  any  kind  is  best  ended  by 
action,  he  gathered  confidence  as  he  did  so.  For 
tunately,  there  was  no  hesitation  this  morning  in 
his  mind  about  his  dress.  He  was  going  to  ride 
to  Richmond  Hill,  and  he  was  quite  satisfied  with 
his  riding  suit.  He  knew  that  it  was  the  next 
thing  to  a  becoming  uniform.  He  knew  that  he 
looked  well  in  it ;  and  he  remembered  with  com 
plaisance  that  it  was  old  enough  to  be  individual  5 
and  new  enough  to  be  handsome  and  striking. 

And,  after  all,  when  a  man  is  in  love,  to  be  rea 
sonable  is  often  to  be  cowardly.  But  Hyde  was 
no  coward  ;  so  then,  it  was  not  long  ere  he  put  all 
fears  and  doubts  behind  him  and  set  his  musings 
to  the  assertion  :  "  I  said  to  my  heart,  last  night, 
that  I  would  meet  Cornelia  at  Richmond  Hill  this 
morning.  I  will  not  go  back  on  my  word.  Such 
fluctuability  is  only  fit  for  failure." 

When  he  was  dressed  he  went  to  his  hotel  and 
breakfasted  there ;  for  the  "  cup  of  coffee  "  he  had 
intended  to  ask  of  Mrs.  Adams  appeared,  now,  a 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf         93 

little  presumptuous.  In  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
previous  night,  with  Cornelia's  smiles  warming  his 
imagination  and  her  words  thrilling  his  heart, 
everything  had  seemed  possible  and  natural;  but 
last  night  and  this  morning  were  different  epochs. 
Last  night,  he  had  been  better,  stronger  than  him 
self;  this  morning,  he  felt  all  the  limitations  of 
social  conveniences  and  tyrannies.  Early  as  it 
was,  there  were  many  members  and  senators  pres 
ent — eating,  drinking  coffee,  and  talking  of  Frank 
lin,  or  of  the  question  of  the  Senate  sitting  with 
closed  doors,  or  of  some  other  of  the  great  little 
subjects  then  agitating  society.  Hyde  took  no  no 
tice  of  any  of  these  disputes  until  a  man — evi 
dently  an  Englishman — called  Franklin  u  a  beggar- 
on-horseback-Yankee."  Then  he  put  down  his 
knife  and  fork,  and  looked  steadily  at  the  speaker, 
saying  with  the  utmost  coolness  and  firmness  — 

u  You  are  mistaken,  sir.  The  beggar-on-horse- 
back  is  generally  supposed  to  ride  to  the  devil. 
Franklin  rode  to  the  highest  posts  of  political  hon 
our  and  to  the  esteem  and  affection  of  worthy  men 
in  all  the  civilized  world." 

"  1  understand,  I  understand,  sir,"  was  the  re 
ply.  "  The  infatuation  of  a  nation  for  some  par 
ticular  genius  or  leader  is  very  like  that  of  a  man 
for  an  ugly  woman.  When  they  do  get  their  eyes 
opened,  they  wonder  what  bewitched  them." 

"  Sir,  what  is  unreasonable  is  irrefutable." 
With  these  words  he  rose,  pushed  aside  his  chair 


94         The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

with  a  little  temper,  and,  turning,  met  Jefferson 
face  to  face.  The  great  man  smiled,  and  put  his 
hand  affectionately  on  Hyde's  shoulder.  He  had 
evidently  heard  the  conversation,  for  when  he  had 
made  the  usual  greetings,  he  added  — 

"  You  spoke  well,  my  young  friend.  Now,  I 
will  give  you  a  piece  of  advice — when  any  one 
abuses  a  great  man  in  your  presence,  ask  them 
what  kind  of  people,  they  admire.  You  will  cer 
tainly  be  consoled."  With  these  words  he  took 
Hyde's  chair  j  and  Hyde,  casting  his  eyes  a  mo 
ment  on  this  tall,  loose-limbed  man,  whose  cold 
blue  eyes  and  red  hair  emphasized  the  stern  anger 
of  his  whole  appearance,  was  well  disposed  to 
leave  the  scurrilous  Englishman  to  his  power  of 
reproof.  Besides,  the  badge  of  mourning  which 
Jefferson  wore  had  reminded  him  of  his  own  neg 
lect.  Probably,  it  was  the  want  of  this  badge  that 
had  made  the  stranger  believe  he  was  speaking  to 
one  who  would  sympathize  with  his  views. 

So  he  went  at  once  to  his  tailor's  and  procured 
the  necessary  band  of  crape  for  his  arm.  But 
these  events  took  time,  and  though  he  rode  hard 
afterwards,  it  was  quite  half-past  nine  when  he 
drew  rein  at  the  door  of  Richmond  Hill.  A  slave 
in  a  fine  livery  was  lounging  there ;  and  he  gave 
him  his  card.  In  a  few  moments  the  man  returned 
with  an  invitation  to  dismount  and  come  into  the 
breakfast-room.  Thus  far,  he  had  suffered  himself 
to  be  carried  forward  by  the  impulse  of  his  heart ; 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf          95 

and  he  still  put  firmly  down  any  wonder  as  to  what 
he  should  say  or  do. 

He  was  shown  into  a  bright  little  parlour  with 
open  windows.  A  table,  elegantly  and  plentifully 
spread,  occupied  the  centre  of  the  room ;  and  sit 
ting  at  it  were  the  Vice-President  and  Mrs.  Adams ; 
and  also  their  only  daughter,  the  beautiful,  but  not 
very  intellectual,  Mrs.  Smith.  It  was  easy  to  see 
that  the  meal  was  really  over,  and  that  the  trio  had 
been  simply  lingering  over  the  table  because  of 
some  interesting  discussion  j  and  it  was  quite  as 
easy  to  understand  that  his  entrance  had  put  an  end 
to  the  conversation.  Mrs.  Adams  met  him  with 
genuine,  though  formal,  kindness ;  Mrs.  Smith 
with  courtesy ;  and  the  Vice-President  rose,  bowed 
handsomely,  hoped  he  was  well,  and  then  after  a 
minute's  reflection  said  — 

"  We  were  talking  about  the  official  title  proper 
for  General  Washington.  What  do  you  think, 
Lieutenant  ?  Or  have  you  heard  General  Hyde 
express  any  opinion  on  the  subject  ?  " 

"  Sir,  I  do  not  presume  to  understand  the  cere 
monials  of  government.  My  father  is  of  the  opin 
ion,  that  c  The  President  of  the  United  States ' 
has  a  Roman  and  republican  simplicity,  and  that 
any  addition  to  it  would  be  derogatory  and  child 
ish." 

"  My  dear  young  man,  the  eyes  of  the  world  are 
upon  us.  To  give  a  title  to  our  leaders  and  rulers 
belongs  to  history.  In  the  Roman  republic  great 


96         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

conquerors  assumed  even  distinctive  titles,  as  well 
as  national  ones." 

"Then  our  Washington  is  superior  to  them. 
Let  us  be  grateful  that  he  has  not  yet  called  him 
self — Americanus.  I  like  Doctor  Kunz's  idea  of 
Washington  best,  but  I  see  not  how  it  could  be 
put  into  a  civil  title." 

"  Doctor  Kunz  !  Doctor  Kunz  !  Oh  yes,  of 
the  Dutch  congregation.  Pray  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  '  And  there  came  up  a  lion  out  of  Judah*  My 
grandfather  is  an  elder  in  that  church,  and  he  said 
the  verse  and  the  sermon  on  it  lifted  the  people  to 
their  feet." 

u  That  might  do  very  well  for  one  side  of  a  state 
seal ;  but  it  is  a  proper  prefix  we  need.  I  don't 
think  we  can  say  '  Your  Majesty  the  President/  ' 

"  I  should  think  not,"  replied  Mrs.  Adams  with 
an  air  of  decision. 

"  Chief  Justice  McKean  thinks  c  His  Serene 
Highness  the  President  of  the  United  States  '  is 
very  suitable.  Roger  Sherman  is  of  the  opinion 
that  neither  '  His  Highness  '  nor  c  His  Excellency ' 
are  novel  and  dignified  enough ;  and  General  Muh- 
lenberg  says  Washington  himself  is  in  favour  of 
1  High  Mightiness/  the  title  used  by  the  Stadt- 
holder  of  Holland." 

"  That  would  please  the  Dutch-Americans,"  said 
Mrs.  Adams — "  if  a  title  at  all  is  necessary,  which 
I  confess  I  cannot  understand.  Is  it  to  be  c  High 
Mightiness '  then  ?  "  she  asked  with  a  little  laugh. 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf         97 

"  I  think  not.  Muhlenberg,  however,  has  seri 
ously  offended  the  President  by  making  a  joke  of 
the  proposition  ;  and  I  must  say,  it  was  ill-timed 
of  Muhlenberg,  and  not  what  I  should  have  ex 
pected  of  him." 

"  But  what  was  the  joke  ?  " 

u  Something  to  the  effect  that  if  the  office  was 
certain  to  be  held  by  men  as  large  as  Washington, 
the  title  of  '  High  Mightiness  '  would  not  be  amiss  ; 
but  that  if  a  little  man — say  like  Aaron  Burr — 
should  be  elected,  the  title  would  be  a  ridiculous 
one.  The  fact  is,  Muhlenberg  is  against  any  title 
whatever  but  that  of  4  President  of  the  United 
States/  " 

"  And  how  will  you  vote,  John  ?  " 

"  In  favour  of  a  title.  Certainly,  I  shall.  Your 
Majesty  is  a  very  good  prefix.  It  would  draw  the 
attention  of  England,  and  show  her  that  we  were 
not  afraid  to  assume  'the  majesty 'of  our  conquest." 

"  And  if  you  wish  to  please  France,"  continued 
Mrs.  Adams — "  which  seems  the  thing  in  fashion 
— you  might  have  the  prefix  c  Citizen.'  l  Citizen 
Washington '  is  not  bad." 

u  It  is  execrable,  Mrs.  Adams  ;  and  I  am  ashamed 
that  you  should  make  it,  even  as  a  pleasantry." 

"  Indeed,  my  friend,  there  is  no  foretelling  what 
may  be.  The  French  fever  is  rising  every  day. 
I  even  may  be  compelled  to  drop  the  offensive 
4  Mistress '  and  call  myself  Citoyenne  Adams. 
And,  after  all,  I  do  believe  that  the  President  re- 


98         The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

gards  his  citizenship  far  above  his  office.  What 
say  you,  Lieutenant  ?  " 

"  I  think,  madame,  that  fifty,  one  hundred,  one 
thousand  years  after  this  day,  it  will  be  of  little  im 
portance  what  prefix  is  put  before  the  name  of  the 
President.  He  will  be  simply  George  Washington 
in  every  heart  and  on  every  page." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  Mrs.  Adams.  "  Fame 
uses  no  prefixes.  It  is  Pompey,  Julius  Caesar, 
Pericles,  Alfred,  Hampden,  Oliver  Cromwell.  Or 
it  is  a  suffix  like  Alexander  the  Great ;  or  Richard 
Goeur-de-Lion.  I  have  no  objection  to  Washington 
the  Great,  or  Washington  Caeur-de-Lion" 

u  Washington  will  do  for  love  and  for  fame," 
continued  Hyde.  "  The  next  generation  may  say 
Mr.  Madison,  or  Mr.  Monroe,  or  Mr.  Jay ;  but 
they  will  want  neither  prefix  nor  suffix  to  Wash 
ington,  Jefferson,  Franklin, —  and,  if  you  permit 
me,  sir — Adams." 

The  Vice-President  was  much  pleased.  He  said 
"  Pooh  !  Pooh  !  "  and  stood  up  and  stepped  loftily 
across  the  hearth-rug,  but  the  subtle  compliment 
went  warm  to  his  heart,  and  the  real  worth  of  the 
man's  nature  came  straight  to  the  front,  as  he 
looked,  under  its  influence,  the  honest,  positive, 
honourable  gentleman  that  every  great  occasion 
found  him  to  be. 

"  Well,  well,"  he  answered ;  "  heartily,  and 
from  our  souls,  we  must  do  our  best,  and  then  trust 
to  Truth  and  Time,  our  name  and  our  memory. 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf         99 

But  I  must  now  go  to  town — our  affairs  give  us  no 
holidays."  And  then  instantly  the  room  was  in  a 
fuss  and  a  flurry.  No  Englishman  could  have 
made  a  more  bustling  exit ;  and,  indeed,  even  in 
his  physical  aspect,  John  Adams  was  a  perfect  pic 
ture  of  the  traditional  John  Bull.  His  natural 
temperament  carried  out  this  likeness  :  high-met 
tled  as  a  game-cock  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
he  was,  in  politics,  passionate,  dogmatic  and  un- 
conciliating,  and  in  social  life  ceremonious  and 
showy  as  any  Englishman  could  be. 

After  he  had  gone,  Mrs.  Adams  proposed  a  walk 
in  the  lovely  garden ;  and  Hyde  hoped  then  to  ob 
tain  a  few  words  with  her.  But  Mrs.  Smith  ac 
companied  them,  and  introduced  immediately  a 
grievance  she  had  evidently  been  previously  dis 
cussing.  With  a  provoking  petulance  she  told 
and  re-told  some  slight  which  Sir  John  Temple  had 
offered  Mr.  Smith  :  adding  always  "  Lady  Temple 
is  very  civil  to  me  ;  but  I  cannot,  and  I  will  not, 
exchange  visits  with  any  lady  who  does  not  pay 
my  William  an  equal  civility."  Enlarging  and  en 
larging  on  this  text,  Hyde  found  no  opportunity 
to  get  a  word  in  on  his  own  affairs ;  and  then,  sud 
denly,  as  they  turned  into  the  main  avenue,  Doctor 
Moran  and  Cornelia  appeared. 

Quite  as  suddenly,  Mrs.  Adams  divined  the  mo 
tive  of  Hyde's  early  visit ;  she  opened  her  eyes 
wide,  and  looked  at  him  with  a  comprehension  so 
clear  and  real  that  Hyde  was  compelled  to  answer, 


loo       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

and  acknowledge  her  suspicion  by  a  look  and  move 
ment  quite  as  unequivocal.  Yet  this  instantaneous 
understanding  contained  neither  promise  nor  sym 
pathy  ;  and  he  could  not  tell  whether  he  had  gained 
a  friend  or  simply  made  a  confession. 

Doctor  Moran  was  evidently  both  astonished  and 
annoyed.  He  stepped  out  of  his  carriage  and 
joined  Mrs.  Adams  but  kept  Cornelia  by  his  side, 
so  that  Hyde  was  compelled  to  escort  Mrs.  Smith. 
And  Cornelia,  beyond  a  very  civil  "  Good-morning, 
sir,"  gave  him  no  sign.  He  could  watch  her  slight, 
virginal  figure,  and  the  bend  of  her  head  in  answer 
ing  Mrs.  Adams  gave  him  transient  glimpses  of  her 
fair  face;  but  there  was  no  message  in  all  its 
changes  for  him.  In  fact,  in  spite  of  Mrs.  Smith's 
little  rill  of  social  complaining,  he  felt  quite  u  out " 
of  the  inner  circle  of  the  company's  interests,  and 
he  was  also  deeply  mortified  at  Cornelia's  apparent 
indifference. 

When  the  party  reached  the  steps  before  the 
house  door,  though  Mrs.  Adams  certainly  invited 
him  to  remain,  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  was  just  the  one  person  not  wanted  at  that  time ; 
yet  as  he  had  plenty  of  self-command  he  com 
pletely  hid  beneath  a  gay  and  charming  manner  the 
chagrin  and  disappointment  that  were  really  tor 
menting  him.  For  one  moment  he  caught  Cor 
nelia's  eyes,  but  his  glance  was  too  rapid  and  in 
quisitive.  She  was  embarrassed,  and  a  little  fright 
ened  by  it ;  and  with  a  deep  blush  turned  towards 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf        101 

Mrs.  Smith  and  said  something  trivial  about  the 
weather  and  the  fine  view.  He  could  not  under 
stand  this  attitude.  Feelings  of  tenderness,  anger, 
mortification,  —  feelings  strong  and  threefold 
crowded  his  beating  heart  and  vivid  brain.  He 
longed  to  set  his  restless  thoughts  to  rapid  move 
ment — to  gallop — to  ejaculate — to  do  any  foolish 
thing  that  would  relieve  his  sense  of  vexation  and 
defeat.  But  until  he  was  out  of  sight  and  hearing 
he  rode  slowly,  with  the  easy  air  of  a  man  who 
was  only  sensitive  to  the  beauty  of  his  surround 
ings,  and  thoroughly  enjoying  them. 

He  kept  this  pace  till  quite  outside  the  precincts 
of  Richmond  Hill,  then  he  struck  his  horse  with  a 
passion  that  astonished  the  animal  and  the  next 
moment  shamed  himself.  He  stooped  instantly 
and  apologized  to  the  quivering  creature ;  and  was 
as  instantly  forgiven.  Then  he  began  to  talk  to 
himself  in  those  elliptical,  unfinished  sentences, 
which  the  inner  man  understands,  and  so  thor 
oughly  finishes — "  If  I  were  not  morally  sure 

It  is  as  plain  as  can  be How  in  the  name  of 

wonder? I'll  say  so  much  for  myself 

I  am  sorry  that  I  went  there A  couple  of 

uninteresting  women This  for  you,  sir ! 

Whistled  myself  up  this  morning  on  a  fool's  er 
rand  No  more  !  no  more  to  save  my  life  ! 

Grant  me  patience Mrs.  Smith  giving  her 
self  a  parcel  of  airs Oh,  adorable  Cornelia !  " 

Such   reflections,  blended   with   pet   names  and 


1O2  '     The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

apologies  to  his  horse,  brought  him  in  sight  of  the 
Van  Heemskirk  house,  and  he  instantly  felt  how 
good  his  grandmother's  sympathy  would  be.  He 
saw  her  at  the  door,  leaning  over  the  upper-half 
and  watching  his  approach. 

"  I  knew  it  was  thee  !  "  she  cried;  "  always,  the 
clatter  of  thy  horse's  hoofs  says  plainly  to  me, 
1  Grand-moth-er !  grand-moth-er !  grand-moth-er ! ' 
Now,  then,  what  is  the  matter  with  thee  ?  Disap 
pointed,  wert  thou  last  night  ?  " 

"  No — but  this  morning  I  have  been  badly  used ; 
and  I  am  angry  at  it."  Then  he  told  her  all  the 
circumstances  of  his  visit  to  Richmond  Hill,  and 
she  listened  patiently,  as  was  her  way  with  all  com- 
plainers. 

"  In  too  great  haste  art  thou,"  were  her  first 
words.  "  No  worse  I  think  of  Cornelia,  because 
a  little  she  draws  back.  To  want,  and  to  have  thy 
want,  that  has  been  the  way  with  thee  all  thy  life 
long.  Even  thy  sword  and  the  battlefield  were  not 
denied  thee ;  but  a  woman's  love  ! — that  is  to  be 
won.  Little  wouldst  thou  value  it,  lightly  wouldst 
thou  hold  it,  if  it  were  thine  for  the  wishing.  Thy 
mother  has  taught  thee  to  expect  too  much." 

"And  my  grandmother?  " 

"  That  is  so.  A  very  foolish  old  woman  is  thy 
grandmother.  Too  much  she  loves  thee,  or  she 
had  not  sent  thee  to  Arenta's  last  night  with  her 
best  ivory  winders." 

"  Oh,  Arenta  is  a  very  darling  !     Had  she  been 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf        103 

present  this  morning,  she  had  taken  the  starch  out 
of  all  our  fine  talk  and  fine  manners.  We  should 
have  chattered  like  the  swallows  about  pleasant 
homely  things ;  and  left  title-making  to  graver 
fools." 

"  If,  now,  thou  had  fallen  in  love  with  Arenta, 
it  had  been  a  good  thing." 

u  If  I  had  not  seen  Cornelia,  I  might  have  adored 
Arenta — but,  then,  Arenta  has  already  a  lover." 

u  So  ?     And  pray  who  is  it  ?  " 

"  Of  all  men  in  the  world,  the  gay,  handsome 
Frenchman,  Athanase  Tounnerre,  a  member  of  the 
French  embassy.  How  a  girl  so  plainly  Dutch 
can  endure  the  creature  confounds  me." 

"  Stop  a  little.  The  grandmother  of  Arenta 
was  French.  Very  well  I  remember  her — a  girl 
all  alive,  from  head  to  foot;  never  still.  Thy 
grandfather  used  to  say,  '  In  her  veins  is  quick 
silver,  not  blood.'  And,  too  soon,  she  wore  away 
her  life  ;  Arenta's  mother  was  but  a  baby,  when  she 
died." 

u  Ah !  So  it  is  !  We  are  the  past,  as  well  as 
the  present.  As  for  myself " 

u  Thou  art  thy  father  over  again  ;  only  sweeter, 
and  better — that  is  the  Dutch  in  thee — the  happy, 
easy-going  Dutch — if  only  thou  wert  not  so  lazy." 

u  That  is  the  English  in  me — the  self-indulgent, 
masterful  English.  So  then,  Arenta,  being  partly 
French,  back  to  the  French  she  goes.  'Tis  pass 
ing  strange." 


104       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

"  Of  this,  art  thou  sure  ?  " 

"  I  have  listened  to  the  man.  Every  one  has. 
He  wears  Arenta's  name  on  his  sleeve.  He  drinks 
her  health  in  all  companies.  He  will  talk  to  any 
stranger  he  meets,  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  about  his 
'  fair  Arenta.'  I  can  but  wonder  at  the  fellow. 
It  is  inconceivable  to  me;  for  though  I  am  pas 
sionately  taken  with  Cornelia  Moran,  I  hide  her 
close  in  my  heart.  I  should  want  to  strike  any 
man  who  breathed  her  name.  Yet  it  is  said  of 
Athanase  de  Tounnerre  that  he  paid  a  visit  to  every 
one  he  knew,  in  order  to  tell  them  of  his  felicity." 

"  And  her  father  ?  To  such  a  marriage  what 
will  he  say  ?  " 

Hyde  stretched  out  his  legs  and  struck  them 
lightly  with  his  riding  whip.  Then,  with  a  smile, 
he  answered,  "  He  will  be  proud  enough  in  his 
heart.  Arenta  would  certainly  leave  him  soon,  and 
the  Dutch  are  very  sensible  to  the  charm  of  a 
title.  His  daughter,  the  Marquise  de  Tounnerre, 
will  be  a  very  great  woman  in  his  eyes." 

"  That  is  the  truth.  I  was  glad  for  thy  mother 
to  be  a  lady,  and  go  to  Court,  and  see  the  Queen. 
Yes,  indeed  !  in  my  heart  I  was  proud  of  it. 
'Twas  about  that  very  thing  poor  Janet  Semple 
and  I  became  unfriends." 

"  Indeed,  it  is  the  common  failing  ;  and  at  pres 
ent,  there  is  no  one  like  the  French.  I  will  ex 
cept  the  President,  and  Mr.  Adams,  and  Mr.  Ham 
ilton,  and  say  the  rest  of  us  are  French  mad." 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf       105 

"  Thy  grandfather,  and  thy  grandmother  too, 
thou  may  except.  And  as  for  thy  father,  with  a 
great  hatred  he  names  them." 

"  My  father  is  English  ;  and  the  English  and 
French  are  natural  and  salutary  enemies.  I  once 
heard  Lord  Exmouth  say  that  France  was  to  Eng 
land  all  that  Carthage  was  to  Rome — the  natural 
outlet  for  the  temper  of  a  people  so  quarrelsome 
that  they  would  fight  each  other  if  they  had  not  the 
French  to  fight." 

"  Listen  !  That  is  thy  father's  gallop.  Far 
off,  I  know  it.  So  early  in  the  morning,  what  is 
he  coming  for  ?  " 

"  He  had  an  intention  to  go  to  Mr.  Semple's 
funeral." 

"  That  is  good.  Thy  grandfather  is  already 
gone  — "and  she  looked  so  pointedly  down  at  her 
black  petticoat  and  bodice,  that  Hyde  an 
swered  — 

"  Yes ;  I  see  that  you  are  in  mourning.  Is  it 
for  Mr.  Franklin,  or  for  Mr.  Semple  ?  " 

"  Franklin  was  far  off;  by  my  fireside  Alexan 
der  Semple  often  sat;  and  at  my  table  often  he  ate. 
Good  friends  were  we  once — good  friends  are  we 
now ;  for  all  but  Love,  Death  buries." 

At  this  moment  General  Hyde  entered  the  room. 
Hurry  and  excitement  were  in  his  face,  though  they 
were  well  controlled.  He  gave  his  hand  to 
Madame  Van  Heemskirk,  saying  — 

u  Good-morning,  mother !      You  look  well,  as 


106       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

you  always  do :  " —  then  turning  to  his  son  and 
regarding  the  young  man's  easy,  smiling  indiffer 
ence,  he  said  with  some  temper,  u  What  the 
devil,  George,  are  you  doing  here,  so  early  in  the  day  ? 
I  have  been  through  the  town  seeking  you — every 
where — even  at  that  abominable  Club,  where 
Frenchmen  and  vagabonds  of  all  kinds  congre 
gate." 

"  I  was  at  the  Vice-President's,  sir,"  answered 
George,  with  a  comical  assumption  of  the  Vice- 
President's  manner. 

"  You  were  where  ?  " 

"  At  Richmond  Hill.  I  made  an  early  call  on 
Mrs.  Adams." 

Then  General  Hyde  laughed  heartily.  "  You 
swaggering  dandy  !  "  he  replied.  u  Did  you  take 
a  bet  at  the  Belvedere  to  intrude  on  His  Loftiness  ? 
And  have  you  a  guinea  or  two  on  supping  a  cup  of 
coffee  with  him  ?  Upon  my  honour,  you  must 
now  be  nearly  at  the  end  of  your  follies.  Mother, 
where  is  the  Colonel  ?  " 

"  He  has  gone  to  Elder  Semple's  house.  You 
know " 

"  I  know  well.  For  a  long  time  I  have  pur 
posed  to  call  on  the  old  gentleman,  and  what  I 
have  neglected  I  am  now  justly  denied.  I  meant, 
at  least,  to  pay  him  the  last  respect ;  but  even  that 
is  to-day  impossible.  For  I  must  leave  for  Eng 
land  this  afternoon  at  five  o'clock,  and  I  have  more 
to  do  than  I  can  well  accomplish." 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf        107 

George  leaped  to  his  feet  at  these  words.  Noth 
ing  could  have  been  more  unexpected  ;  but  that  is 
the  way  with  Destiny,  her  movements  are  ever  un 
foreseen  and  inevitable.  "Sir,"  he  cried,  "what 
has  happened  ?  " 

"Your  uncle  is  dying — perhaps  dead.  I  re 
ceived  a  letter  this  morning  urging  me  to  take  the 
first  packet.  The  North  Star  sails  this  after 
noon,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  miss  her,  for  she  flies 
English  colours,  and  they  are  the  only  ones  the 
Barbary  pirates  pretend  to  respect.  Now,  George, 
you  must  come  with  me  to  Mr.  Hamilton's  office ; 
we  have  much  business  to  arrange  there  ;  then, 
while  I  pay  a  farewell  visit  to  the  President,  you 
can  purchase  for  me  the  things  I  shall  require  for 
the  voyage." 

So  far  his  manner  had  been  peremptory  and  de 
cided,  but,  suddenly,  a  sweet  and  marvellous  change 
occurred.  He  went  close  to  Madame  Van  Heems- 
kirk,  and  taking  both  her  hands,  said  in  a  voice 
full  of  those  tones  that  captivate  women's 
hearts  — 

"  Mother  !  mother  !  I  bid  you  a  loving,  grate 
ful  farewell !  You  have  ever  been  to  me  good, 
and  gentle,  and  wise — the  very  best  of  mothers. 
God  bless  you !  "  Then  he  kissed  her  with  a 
solemn  tenderness,  and  Lysbet  understood  that  he 
believed  their  parting  to  be  a  final  one.  She  sat 
down,  weeping,  and  Hyde  with  an  authoritative 
motion  of  the  head,  commanding  his  son's  attend- 


io8       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

ance,  went  hastily  out.  It  was  then  eleven 
o'clock,  and  there  was  business  that  kept  both  men 
hurrying  here  and  there  until  almost  the  last  hour. 
It  had  been  agreed  that  they  were  to  meet  at  the 
City  Hotel  at  four  o'clock  ;  and  soon  after  that 
hour  General  Hyde  joined  his  son.  He  looked 
weary  and  sad,  and  began  immediately  to  charge 
George  concerning  his  mother. 

"  We  parted  with  kisses  and  smiles  this  morn 
ing,"  he  said  ;  "  and  I  am  glad  of  it ;  if  I  went 
back,  we  should  both  weep  ;  and  a  wet  parting  is 
not  a  lucky  one.  I  leave  her  in  your  charge, 
George ;  and  when  I  send  her  word  to  come  to 
England,  look  well  to  her  comfort.  And  be  sure 
to  come  with  her.  Do  you  hear  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  On  no  account — even  if  she  wishes  it — permit 
her  to  come  alone.  Promise  me." 

"  I  promise  you,  sir.  What  is  there  that  I 
would  not  do  for  my  mother  ?  What  is  there  I 
would  not  do  to  please  you,  sir  ?  " 

"  Let  me  tell  you,  George,  such  words  are  very 
sweet  to  me.  As  to  yourself,  I  do  not  fear  for 
you.  It  is  above,  and  below  reason,  that  you 
should  do  anything  to  shame  your  kindred,  living 
or  dead — the  living  indeed,  you  might  reconcile ; 
the  dead  are  implacable ;  and  their  vengeance  is  to 
be  feared." 

"  I  fear  not  the  dead,  and  I  love  the  living.  The 
honour  of  Hyde  is  safe  in  my  keeping.  If  you 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf        109 

have  any  advice  to  give  me,  sir,  pray  speak 
plainly." 

"  With  all  my  soul.  I  ask  you,  then,  to  play 
with  some  moderation.  I  ask  you  to  avoid 
any  entanglement  with  women.  I  ask  you  to  with 
draw  yourself,  as  soon  as  possible,  from  those 
blusterers  for  French  liberty — or  rather  French 
license,  robbery,  and  assassination — I  tell  you  there 
is  going  to  be  a  fierce  national  fracas  on  the  sub 
ject.  Stand  by  the  President,  and  every  word  he 
says.  Every  word  is  sure  to  be  wise  and  right." 

"  Father,  I  learnt  the  word  '  Liberty  '  from  your 
lips.  I  drew  my  sword  under  your  command  for 
*  Liberty.'  I  know  not  how  to  discard  an  idea  that 
has  grown  into  my  nature  as  the  veining  grows  into 
the  wood." 

"  Liberty  !  Yes ;  cherish  it  with  your  life-blood. 
But  France  has  polluted  the  name  and  outraged  the 
idea.  Neither  you  nor  I  can  wish  to  be  swept  into 
the  common  sewers,  being  by  birth,  nobles  and 
aristocrats.  Earl  Stanhope,  who  was  heart  and 
soul  with  the  French  Revolution  while  it  was  a 
movement  for  liberty,  has  just  scratched  his  name 
with  his  own  hand  from  the  revolutionary  Club. 
And  Burke,  who  was  once  its  most  enthusiastic  de 
fender,  has  now  written  a  pamphlet  which  has  given 
it,  in  England,  a  fatal  blow.  This  news  came  in 
my  letters  to-day."  Then  taking  out  his  watch, 
he  rose,  saying,  "  Come,  it  is  time  to  go  to  the 
ship My  dear  George  !  " 


no       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

George  could  not  speak.  He  clasped  his  father's 
hand,  and  then  walked  by  his  side  to  Coffee  House 
Slip,  where  the  North  Star  was  lying.  There  was 
no  time  to  spare,  and  the  General  was  glad  of  it ; 
for  oh,  these  last  moments  !  Youth  may  prolong 
them,  but  age  has  lost  youth's  rebound,  and  will 
ingly  escapes  their  disintegrating  emotion.  Before 
either  realized  the  fact,  the  General  had  crossed 
the  narrow  plank;  it  was  quickly  withdrawn;  the 
anchor  was  lifted  to  the  chanty  of  "  Homeward 
bound  boys,"  and  the  North  Star,  with  wind  and  tide 
in  her  favour,  was  facing  the  great  separating  ocean. 

George  turned  from  the  ship  in  a  maze.  He 
felt  as  if  his  life  had  been  cut  sharply  asunder;  at 
any  rate,  its  continuity  was  broken,  and  what  other 
changes  this  change  might  bring  it  was  impossible 
to  foresee.  In  any  extremity,  however,  there  is 
generally  some  duty  to  do ;  and  the  doing  of  that 
duty  is  the  first  right  step  onward.  Without  rea 
soning  on  the  matter,  George  followed  this  plan. 
He  had  a  letter  to  deliver  to  his  mother;  it  was 
right  that  it  should  be  delivered  as  soon  as  possible ; 
and  indeed  he  felt  as  if  her  voice  and  presence 
would  be  the  best  of  all  comfort  at  that  hour ;  so 
late  as  it  was,  he  rode  out  to  Hyde  Manor.  His 
mother,  with  a  lighted  candle  in  her  hand,  opened 
the  door  for  him. 

u  I  thought  it  was  thy  father,  Joris,"  she  said ; 
"  but  what  ?  Is  there  anything  wrong  ?  Why  art 
thou  alone  ?  " 


Turning  Over  a  New  Leaf        1 1 1 

"  There  is  nothing  wrong,  dear  mother.  Come, 
I  will  tell  you  what  has  happened." 

Then  she  locked  the  door  carefully,  and  fol 
lowed  her  son  into  the  small  parlour,  where  she  had 
been  sitting.  He  gave  her  his  father's  letter,  and 
assumed  for  her  sake,  the  air  of  one  who  has 
brought  good  tidings.  She  silently  read,  and  folded 
it ;  and  George  said,  "  It  was  the  most  fortunate 
thing,  the  North  Star  being  ready  for  sea.  Father 
could  hardly  have  had  a  better  boat;  and  they 
started  with  wind  and  tide  in  their  favour.  We 
shall  hear  in  a  few  weeks  from  him.  Are  you  not 
pleased,  mother  ?  " 

"  It  is  too  late,  Joris ; — twenty  years  too  late. 
And  I  wish  not  to  go  to  England.  Very  unhappy 
was  I  in  that  cold,  grey  country.  Very  happy  am 
I  here." 

"  But  you  must  have  expected  this  change  ?  " 

"Not  until  your  cousin  died  was  there  any 
thought  of  such  a  thing.  And  long  before  that, 
we  had  built  and  begun  to  love  dearly  this  home. 
I  wish,  then,  it  had  been  God's  will  that  your 
cousin  had  not  died." 

"My  father " 

"  Ah,  Joris,  your  father  has  always  longed  in  his 
heart  for  England.  Like  a  weaning  babe  that 
never  could  be  weaned  was  he.  In  many  ways,  he 
has  lately  shown  me  that  he  felt  himself  to  be  a 
future  English  earl.  And  thou  too  ?  Wilt  thou 
become  an  Englishman  ?  Then  this  fair  home  I 


112        The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

have  made  for  thee  will  forget  thy  voice  and  thy 
footstep.  Woe  is  me !  I  have  planted  and 
planned,  for  whom  I  know  not." 

"  You  have  planned  and  planted  for  your  Joris. 
I  swear  to  you  that  I  like  England  as  little  as  you 
do.  I  despise  the  tomfoolery  of  courts  and  cere 
monies.  I  count  an  earl  no  better  than  any  other 
honourable  gentleman.  I  desire  most  of  all  to 
marry  the  woman  I  love,  and  live  here  in  the  home 
that  reminds  me  of  you  wherever  I  turn.  I  want 
your  likeness  on  the  great  stairway,  and  in  all  the 
rooms ;  so  that  those  who  may  never  see  your  face 
may  love  you ;  and  say,  *  How  good  she  looks  ! 
How  beautiful  she  is  ! '  " 

"  So  true  art  thou  !  So  loving  !  So  dear  to  me  ! 
Even  in  England  I  can  be  happy  if  I  think  of  thee 
here — filling  these  big  rooms  with  good  company  ; 
riding,  shooting,  over  thine  own  land,  fishing  in 
thy  own  waters,  telling  thy  boys  and  girls  how  dear 
grandmother  had  this  pond  dug — this  hedge  planted 
— these  woods  filled  with  game — these  streams  set 
with  willows — these  summerhouses  built  for  pleas 
ure.  Oh,  I  have  thought  ever  as  I  worked,  I  shall 
leave  my  memory  here — and  here — and  here  again 
— for  never,  Joris,  never,  dear  Joris,  while  thou  art 
in  this  world,  must  thou  forget  me  !  " 

"  Never !     Never,  oh  never,  dear,  dear  mother !  " 

And  that  night  they  said  no  more.  Both  felt  there 
would  be  plenty  of  time  in  the  future  to  consider 
whatever  changes  it  might  have  in  store  for  them. 


CHAPTER  VI 

AUNT    ANGELICA 

THE  first  changes  referred  especially  to  Hyde's 
life,  and  were  not  altogether  approved  by  him. 
His  pretence  of  reading  law  had  to  be  abandoned, 
for  he  had  promised  to  remain  at  home  with  his 
mother,  and  it  would  not  therefore  be  possible  for 
him  to  dawdle  about  Pearl  Street  and  Maiden  Lane 
watching  for  Cornelia.  But  he  had  that  happy 
and  fortunate  temper  that  trusts  to  events;  and 
also,  he  soon  began  to  realize  that  if  circumstances 
alter  cases,  they  also  alter  feelings. 

For,  looking  upon  Hyde  Manor  as  the  future 
home  of  himself  and  his  wife — and  that  wife, 
happily,  Cornelia — he  found  it  very  easy  to  take  an 
almost  eager  interest  in  all  that  concerned  its  wel 
fare  and  beauty.  "  How  good  !  How  unselfish 
he  is  !  "  thought  his  mother.  "  Never  before  has 
he  been  so  ready  to  listen  and  so  willing  to  please 
me."  But,  really,  the  work  soon  became  delight 
ful  to  him.  The  passion  for  land  and  for  its  im 
provement — the  ruling  passion  of  an  Englishman 
— was  not  absent  in  George ;  it  was  only  latent, 
and  the  idea  of  home,  of  his  own  personal  home, 
developed  it  with  amazing  rapidity.  He  was  soon 
able  to  make  excellent  suggestions  to  his  mother; 
113 


114       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

for  her  ideas,  beautiful  enough  in  the  cultivation 
of  flat  surfaces,  did  not  embody  the  grander  possi 
bilities  of  the  higher  lands  near  the  river.  But 
George  saw  every  advantage,  and  with  great  ability 
directed  his  little  gang  of  labourers  among  the  rocks 
and  woody  crags  of  the  yet  unplanted  wilderness. 

In  spite  of  their  anxiety  about  the  General,  in 
spite  of  George's  longing  to  see  Cornelia,  these 
early  summer  days,  with  their  glory  of  sunshine 
and  shade  and  their  miracles  of  growth,  were  very 
happy  days ;  though  madame  reached  her  happiness 
by  putting  the  future  quite  out  of  her  thoughts,  and 
George  reached  his  by  anticipating  the  future  as 
the  fruition  of  the  present.  Never  since  his  early 
boyhood  had  madame  and  her  son  been  so  near 
and  so  dear  to  each  other ;  for  her  brother-in-law's 
probable  death  and  her  husband's  dangerous  jour 
neying  released  her  from  social  engagements,  and 
permitted  her  to  spend  her  time  in  the  employ 
ments  and  the  companionship  she  loved  best  of  all. 

George,  while  accepting  for  himself  the  same 
partial  seclusion,  had  more  freedom.  He  rode 
into  town  three  or  four  times  every  week ;  got  the 
news  of  the  clubs  and  the  streets ;  loitered  about 
Maiden  Lane  and  the  shopping  district ;  and  when 
disappointed  and  vexed  at  events  went  to  his 
Grandmother  Van  Heemskirk  for  sympathy.  For, 
as  yet,  he  hesitated  about  naming  Cornelia  to  his 
mother.  He  was  sure  she  was  aware  of  his  pas 
sion,  and  her  reticence  on  the  subject  made  him 


Aunt  Angelica  1 15 

fear  she  was  going  to  advocate  the  fulfilment  of  his 
father's  promise.  And  he  had  such  a  singular  del 
icacy  about  the  girl  he  loved  that  he  could  not  en 
dure  the  thought  of  bandying  her  name  about  in  an 
angry  discussion.  Added  to  this  fine  sense  was  an 
adoring  love  for  his  mother.  She  was  in  anxiety 
enough,  and  would  be,  until  she  heard  of  her  hus 
band's  safety ;  why,  then,  should  he  add  his 
anxiety  to  hers  ? 

Yet  he  was  not  happy  about  Cornelia.  Since 
that  unfortunate  morning  at  Richmond  Hill  they 
had  never  met.  If  she  saw  him  go  up  or  down 
Maiden  Lane,  she  made  no  sign.  Several  times 
Arenta's  face  at  her  parlour  window  had  given 
him  a  passing  hope ;  but  Arenta's  own  love  affairs 
were  just  then  at  a  very  interesting  point ;  and,  be 
sides,  she  regarded  the  young  Lieutenant's  ad 
miration  for  her  friend  as  only  one  of  his  many 
transient  enthusiasms. 

"  If  there  was  anything  real  in  it,"  she  reflected, 
"  Cornelia  would  have  talked  about  him  ;  and  that 
she  has  never  done."  Then  she  began  to  re 
member,  with  pride,  the  very  sensible  behaviour  of 
her  own  lover.  "  My  Athanase,"  she  reflected, 
"  did  not  give  me  an  hour's  rest  until  we  were  en 
gaged.  He  insisted  on  talking  to  father  about  our 
marriage  settlements  and  our  future — in  fact,  he 
made  of  love  a  thing  possible  and  practical.  A 
lover  like  Joris  Hyde  is  not,  I  think,  very  fortu 
nate." 


ll6       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

She  did  not  understand  that  the  quality  of  love 
in  its  finest  revelation  desires,  after  its  first  sweet 
inception,  a  little  period  of  withdrawal — it  wonders 
at  its  strange  happiness — broods  over  it — is  fearful 
of  disturbing  emotions  so  exquisite — prefers  the 
certainty  of  its  delicious  suspense  to  a  more  defi 
nite  understanding,  and  finds  a  keen  strange  delight 
in  its  own  poignant  anxieties  and  hopes.  These 
are  the  birth  pangs  of  an  immortal  love — of  a  love 
that  knows  within  itself,  that  it  is  born  for  Eternity, 
and  need  not  to  hurry  the  three-score-and-ten 
years  of  time  to  a  consummation. 

Of  such  noble  lineage  was  the  love  of  Cornelia 
for  Joris  Hyde.  His  gracious,  beautiful  youth, 
seemed  a  part  of  her  own  youth  ;  his  ardent,  tender 
glances  had  filled  her  heart  with  a  sweet  trouble 
that  she  did  not  understand.  It  was  the  most 
natural  thing  in  the  world  that  she  should  wish  to 
be  apart ;  that  she  should  desire  to  brood  over  feel 
ings  so  strangely  happy;  and  that  in  this  very 
brooding  they  should  grow  to  the  perfect  stature  of 
a  luminous  and  unquenchable  affection. 

Joris  was  moved  by  a  sentiment  of  the  same 
kind,  though  in  a  lesser  degree.  The  masculine 
desire  to  obtain,  and  the  delightful  consciousness 
that  he  possessed,  at  least,  the  tremendous  ad 
vantage  of  asking  for  the  love  he  craved,  roused 
him  from  the  sweet  torpor  to  which  delicious, 
dreamy  love  had  inclined  him. 

UI  have  thought  of  Cornelia  long   enough,"  he 


Aunt  Angelica  117 

said  one  delightful  summer  morning  ;  "  with  all  my 
soul  I  now  long  to  see  her.  And  it  is  not  an  im 
possible  thing  I  desire.  In  short,  there  is  some 
way  to  compass  it.'*  Then  a  sudden,  invincible 
persuasion  of  success  came  to  him  ;  he  believed  in 
his  own  good  fortune  ;  he  had  a  conviction  that 
the  very  stars  connived  with  a  true  lover  to  work 
his  will.  And  under  this  enthusiasm  he  galloped 
into  town,  took  his  horse  to  a  stable,  and  then 
walked  towards  Maiden  Lane. 

In  a  few  moments  he  saw  Arenta  Van  Ariens. 
She  was  in  a  mist  of  blue  and  white,  with  flowing 
curls,  and  fluttering  ribbons ;  and  a  general  air  of 
happiness.  He  placed  himself  directly  in  her  path, 
and  doffed  his  beaver  to  the  ground  as  she  ap 
proached. 

u  Well,  then,"  she  cried,  with  an  affected  air  of 
astonishment,  "  who  would  have  thought  of  seeing 
you  ?  Your  retirement  is  the  talk  of  the  town." 

u  And  pray  what  does  the  town  say  ? " 

"  Some  part  of  it  says  you  have  lost  your  fortune 
at  cards ;  another  part  says  you  have  lost  your 
heart  and  got  no  compensation  for  it.  'Tis  strange 
to  see  the  folly  of  young  people  of  this  age,"  she 
added,  with  a  little  pretended  sigh  of  superior  wis 
dom. 

"  As  if  you,  also,  had  not  lost  your  heart !  "  ex 
claimed  Hyde. 

"  No,  sir  !  I  have  exchanged  mine  for  its  full 
value.  Where  are  you  going  ?  " 


ii8       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

"With  you." 

"  In  a  word,  no.  For  I  am  going  to  Aunt  An 
gelica's." 

"  Upon  my  honour,  it  is  to  your  Aunt  Angelica's 
I  desire  to  go  most  of  all !  " 

"  Now  I  understand.  You  have  found  out  that 
Cornelia  Moran  is  going  there.  Are  you  still 
harping  on  that  string  ?  And  Cornelia  never  said 
one  word  to  me.  I  do  not  approve  of  such  deceit. 
In  my  love  affairs  I  have  always  been  open  as  the 
day." 

"  I  assure  you  that  I  did  not  know  Miss  Moran 
was  going  there.  I  had  not  a  thought  of  Madame 
Jacobus  until  we  met.  To  tell  the  very  truth,  I 
came  into  town  to  look  for  you." 

"  For  me  ?     And  why,  pray  ?  " 

u  I  want  to  see  Miss  Moran.  If  I  cannot  see 
her,  then  I  want  to  hear  about  her.  I  thought 
you,  of  all  people,  could  tell  me  the  most  and  the 
best.  I  assured  myself  that  you  had  infinite  good 
temper.  Now,  pray  do  not  disappoint  me." 

"  Listen  !  We  meet  this  afternoon  at  my  aunt's, 
to  discuss  the  dresses  and  ceremonies  proper  for  a 
very  fine  wedding." 

"  For  your  own  wedding,  in  fact Is  not 

that  so  ?  " 

"  Well,  then  ?  " 

"  Well,  then,  who  knows  more  on  that  subject 
than  Joris  Hyde  ?  Was  I  not,  last  year,  at  Lady 
Betty  Somer's  splendid  nuptials;  and  at  Fanny 


Aunt  Angelica  1 19 

Paget's,  and  the  Countess  of  Carlisle's  ?  Indeed, 
I  maintain  that  in  such  a  discussion  /  am  an  abso 
lute  necessity.  And  I  wish  to  know  Madame 
Jacobus.  I  have  long  wished  to  know  her.  Upon 
my  honour,  I  think  her  to  be  one  of  the  most  in 
teresting  women  in  New  York  !  " 

"  I  will  advise  you  a  little.  Save  your  com 
pliments  until  you  can  say  them  to  my  aunt.  I 
never  carry  a  word  to  any  one." 

u  Then  take  me  with  you,  and  I  will  repeat 
them  to  her  face." 

"  So  ?  Well,  then,  here  we  are,  at  her  very 
door.  I  know  not  what  she  will  say — you  must 
make  your  own  excuses,  sir." 

As  she  was  speaking,  they  ascended  the  white 
steps  leading  to  a  very  handsome  brick  house  on  the 
west  side  of  Broadway.  It  had  wide  iron  piazzas 
and  a  fine  shady  garden  at  the  back,  sloping  down 
to  the  river  bank;  and  had  altogether,  on  the  out 
side,  the  very  similitude  of  a  wealthy  and  fashion 
able  residence.  The  door  was  opened  by  a  very 
dark  man,  who  was  not  a  negro,  and  who  was 
dressed  in  a  splendid  and  outlandish  manner — a 
scarlet  turban  above  his  straight  black  hair,  and 
gold-hooped  earrings,  and  a  long  coat  or  tunic, 
heavily  embroidered  in  strange  devices. 

"  He  was  an  Algerine  pirate,"  whispered  Arenta. 
41  My  Uncle  Jacob  brought  him  here — and  my  aunt 
trusts  him — I  would  not,  not  for  a  moment." 

As  soon  as  the  front  door  closed,  Joris  perceived 


no       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

that  he  was  in  an  unusual  house.  The  scents  and 
odours  of  strange  countries  floated  about  it.  The 
hall  contained  many  tall  jars,  full  of  pungent  gums 
and  roots ;  and  upon  its  walls  the  weapons  of  sav 
age  nations  were  crossed  in  idle  and  harmless  fash 
ion.  They  went  slowly  up  the  highly  polished 
stairway  into  a  large,  low  parlour,  facing  the  vivid, 
everyday  business  drama  of  Broadway  ;  but  the 
room  itself  was  like  an  Arabian  Night's  dream,  for 
the  Eastern  atmosphere  was  supplemented  by  di 
vans  and  sofas  covered  with  rare  cashmere  shawls, 
and  rugs  of  Turkestan,  and  with  cushions  of  all 
kinds  of  oriental  splendour.  Strange  tables  of 
wonderful  mosaic  work  held  ivory  carvings  of 
priceless  worth;  and  porcelain  from  unknown 
lands.  Gods  and  goddesses  from  the  yellow 
Gehenna  of  China  and  the  utterable  idolatry  of 
India,  looked  out  with  brute  cruelty,  or  sempiternal 
smiles  from  every  odd  corner ;  or  gazed  with  a 
fascinating  prescience  from  the  high  chimney-piece 
upon  all  who  entered. 

The  effect  upon  Hyde  was  instantaneous  and 
uncanny.  His  Saxon-Dutch  nature  was  in  instant 
revolt  against  influences  so  foreign  and  unnatural. 
Arenta  was  unconsciously  in  sympathy  with  him  ; 
for  she  said  with  a  shrug  of  her  pretty  shoulders, 
as  she  looked  around,  "  I  have  always  bad  dreams 
after  a  visit  to  this  room.  Do  these  things  have  a 
life  of  their  own  ?  Look  at  the  creature  on  that 
corner  shelf!  What  a  serene  disdain  is  in  his 


Aunt  Angelica  121 

smile  !  He  seems  to  gaze  into  the  very  depths  of 
your  soul.  I  see  that  there  is  a  curtain  to  his 
shrine  ;  and  I  shall  take  leave  to  draw  it."  With 
these  words  she  went  to  the  scornful  divinity,  and 
shut  his  offending  eyes  behind  the  folds  of  his  gold- 
embroidered  curtain. 

Hyde  watched  her  flitting  about  the  strange 
room,  and  thought  of  a  little  brown  wren  among 
the  poisonous,  vivid  splendours  of  tropical  swamp 
flowers.  So  out  of  place  the  pretty,  thoughtless 
Dutch  girl  looked  among  the  spoils  of  far  India, 
and  Central  America,  and  of  Arabian  and  African 
worship  and  workmanship.  But  when  the  door 
opened,  and  Madame  Jacobus,  with  soft,  gliding 
footsteps  entered,  Hyde  understood  how  truly  the 
soul,  if  given  the  wherewithal,  builds  the  habitation 
it  likes  best.  Once  possessed  of  marvellous  beauty, 
and  yet  extraordinarily  interesting,  she  seemed  the 
very  genius  of  the  room  and  its  strange,  suggestive 
belongings.  She  was  unusually  tall,  and  her  figure 
had  kept  its  undulating,  stately  grace.  Her  hair, 
dazzlingly  white,  was  piled  high  above  her  ample 
brow,  held  in  place  with  jewelled  combs  and  glit 
tering  pins.  Her  face  had  lost  its  fine  oval  and 
youthful  freshness,  but  who  of  any  feeling  or  in 
telligence  would  not  have  far  preferred  the  worn 
countenance,  expressing  in  a  thousand  sensitive 
shades  and  emotions  the  story  of  her  life  and  love  ? 
And  if  every  other  beauty  had  failed,  Angelica's 
eyes  would  have  atoned  for  the  loss.  They  were 


122        The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

large,  softly-black,  slow-moving,  or  again,  in  a 
moment,  flashing  with  the  fire  that  lay  hidden  in 
the  dark  pit  of  the  iris. 

It  was  said  that  her  slaves  adored  her,  and  that 
no  man  who  came  within  her  influence  had  been 
able  to  resist  her  power — no  man,  perhaps,  but 
Captain  Jacobus ;  and  he  had  not  resisted,  he  had 
been  content  to  exercise  over  her  a  power  greater 
than  her  own.  He  had  made  her  his  wife ;  he  had 
lavished  on  her  for  ten  years  the  spoils  of  the  four 
quarters  of  the  world ;  and  his  worship  of  her  had 
only  been  equalled  by  her  passionate  attachment  to 
him.  Ten  years  of  love,  and  then  parting  and  si 
lence — unbroken  silence.  Yet  she  still  insisted 
that  he  was  alive,  and  would  certainly  come  back 
to  her.  With  this  faith  in  her  heart,  she  had  re 
fused  to  put  on  any  symbol  of  loss  or  mourning. 
She  kept  his  fine  house  open,  his  room  ready,  and 
herself  constantly  adorned  for  his  home-coming. 
Society,  which  insists  on  uniformity,  did  not  ap 
prove  of  this  unreasonable  hope.  It  expected  her 
to  adopt  the  garments  of  widowhood  for  a  time, 
and  then  make  a  match  in  accordance  with  the 
great  fortune  Captain  Jacobus  had  left  her.  But 
Angelica  Jacobus  was  a  law  unto  herself;  and  so 
ciety  was  compelled  to  take  her  with  those  apolo 
gizing  shrugs  it  gives  to  whatever  is  original  and 
individual. 

She  came  in  with  a  smile  of  welcome.  She 
was  always  pleased  that  her  fine  home  should  be 


Aunt  Angelica  123 

seen  by  those  strange  to  it ;  and  perhaps  was  par 
ticularly  pleased  that  General  Hyde's  son  should 
be  her  visitor.  And  as  Joris  was  determined  to 
win  her  favour,  there  was  an  almost  instantaneous 
birth  of  good-will. 

"  Let  me  kiss  your  hand,  madame,"  said  the 
handsome  young  fellow,  lifting  the  jewelled  fingers 
in  his  own.  u  I  have  heard  that  my  father  had 
once  that  honour.  Do  not  put  me  below  him ;  " 
and  with  the  words  he  touched  with  his  warm  lips 
the  long  white  fingers. 

Her  laugh  rang  merrily  through  the  dim  room, 
and  she  answered — "  You  are  Dick  Hyde's  own 
son — nothing  else.  I  see  that  " — and  she  drew 
the  young  man  towards  the  light  and  looked  with  a 
steady  pleasure  into  his  smiling  face  as  she  asked  — 

u  What  brought  you  here  this  morning,  sir  ?  " 

"  Madame,  I  have  heard  my  father  speak  of  you  ; 
I  have  seen  you ;  can  you  wonder  that  I  desired 
to  know  you  ?  This  morning  I  met  Miss  Van 
Ariens,  and  when  she  said  she  was  coming  here,  I 
found  myself  unable  to  resist  the  temptation  of 
coming  with  her." 

"  Let  me  tell  you  something,  aunt.  I  think 
Lieutenant  Hyde  can  be  of  great  service  to  us. 
He  took  part  in  several  noble  English  weddings 
last  year,  and  he  offers  his  advice  in  our  consulta 
tion  to-day." 

41  But  where  is  Cornelia  ?  I  thought  she  would 
come  with  you." 


124       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  She  will  be  here  in  a  few  minutes.  I  saw  her 
half-an-hour  ago." 

"  What  a  beautiful  girl  she  has  become  !  "  said 
madame. 

"  She  is  an  angel,"  said  Hyde. 

Angelica  laughed.  "  The  man  who  calls  a 
woman  an  angel  has  never  had  any  sisters,"  she 
answered ;  "  but,  however,  she  has  beauty  enough 
to  set  young  hearts  ablaze.  I  like  the  girl,  and  I 
wonder  not  that  others  do  the  same." 

Even  as  she  spoke  Cornelia  entered.  There 
was  a  little  flush  and  hurry  on  her  face ;  but  oh, 
how  innocent  and  joyous  it  was  !  Quick-glanc 
ing,  sweetly  smiling,  she  entered  the  musky, 
scented  parlour,  and  in  her  white  robe  and  white 
hat  stood  like  a  lily  in  its  light  and  gloom,  And 
when  she  turned  to  Hyde  an  ineffable  charm  and 
beauty  illumed  her  countenance.  "  How  glad  I 
am  to  see  you  ! "  she  said,  and  the  very  ring  of 
gladness  was  in  her  voice.  "  And  how  strange 
that  we  should  meet  here  !  " 

"  That  is  so,"  replied  Madame  Jacobus.  "  One 
can  never  see  where  the  second  little  bird  comes 
from." 

"  Am  I  late,  madame  ?  Surely  your  clock  is 
wrong." 

"  My  clock  is  never  wrong,  Cornelia.  A  Dutch 
clock  will  always  go  just  about  so.  Come,  now, 
sit  down,  and  let  us  talk  of  such  follies  as  wed 
dings  and  wedding  gowns." 


Aunt  Angelica  125 

In  this  conversation  Hyde  triumphantly  re 
deemed  his  promise  of  assistance.  He  could  de 
scribe  with  a  delightful  accuracy — or  inaccuracy — 
the  lovely  toilets  and  pretty  accessories  of  the  high 
English  wedding  feasts  of  the  previous  year.  And 
in  some  subtle  way  he  threw  into  these  descriptions 
such  a  glamour  of  romance,  such  backgrounds  of 
old  castles  and  chiming  bells,  of  noble  dames  glit 
tering  with  gems,  and  village  maids  scattering 
roses,  of  martial  heroes,  and  rejoicing  lovers,  all 
moving  in  an  atmosphere  of  song  and  sunshine, 
that  the  little  party  sat  listening,  entranced,  with 
sympathetic  eyes  drinking  in  his  wonderful  descrip 
tions. 

Madame  Jacobus  was  the  first  to  interrupt  these 
pretty  reminiscences.  "  All  this  is  very  fine,"  she 
said,  "but  the  most  of  it  is  no  good  for  us.  The 
satin  and  the  lace  and  even  the  gems,  we  can  have ; 
the  music  can  be  somehow  managed,  and  we  shall 
not  make  a  bad  show  as  to  love  and  beauty.  But 
castles  and  lords  and  military  pomp,  and  old  cathe 
drals  hung  with  battle  flags Such  things  are 

not  to  be  had  here,  and,  in  plain  truth,  they  are 
not  necessary  for  the  wedding  of  a  simple  maid 
like  our  Arenta." 

"  You  forget,  then,  that  my  Athanase  is  of  almost 
royal  descent,"  said  Arenta.  u  A  very  old  family 
are  the  Tounnerres — older,  indeed,  than  the  royal 
Capets." 

"  No  one  is  to-day  so   poor  as  to  envy  the  royal 


126       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Capets;  and  as  for  an  ancient  family,  Captain 
Jacobus  used  to  speak  of  his  forefathers  as  '  the 
old  fellows  whom  the  flood  could  not  wash  away.' 
Jacobus  always  put  his  ideas  in  such  clear,  forcible 
words.  What  I  want  to  know  is  this — where  is 
the  ceremony  to  be  performed  r  " 

u  The  civil  ceremony  is  to  be  at  the  French 
Embassy,"  answered  Arenta  with  some  pride. 

"  Is  that  all  there  is  to  it  ?  " 

"  Aunt  !  How  could  you  imagine  that  I  should 
be  satisfied  with  a  civil  ceremony  ?  My  father 
also  insists  upon  a  religious  ceremony ;  and  my 
Athanase  told  him  he  was  willing  to  marry  me  in 
every  church  in  America.  I  am  not  Gertrude 
Kippon  !  No,  indeed  !  I  insist  on  everything  be 
ing  done  in  a  moral  and  respectable  manner.  My 
father  spoke  of  Doctor  Kunz  for  the  religious  part." 

u  I  like  not  Doctor  Kunz,"  answered  madame. 
"  Bishop  Provoost  and  the  Episcopal  service  is  the 
proper  thing.  Doctor  Kunz  will  be  sure  to  say 
some  sharp  words — his  tongue  is  full  of  them — he 
stands  too  stiff — he  does  not  use  his  hands  grace 
fully — his  walk  and  carriage  is  not  dignified — and 
he  looks  at  you  through  spectacles — and  I,  for  one, 
do  not  like  to  be  looked  at  through  spectacles. 
We  must  decide  for  the  Episcopal  church." 

"  And  the  little  trip  after  it,"  continued  Arenta. 
u  Lieutenant  Hyde  says  that,  in  England,  it  is  now 
the  proper  thing." 

"  But  in  America  it  is  not  the  proper  thing.     It 


Aunt  Angelica  127 

is  a  rude  unmannerly  way  to  run  off  with  a  bride. 
We  are  not  red  Indians,  nor  is  the  Marquis  carry 
ing  you  by  force  from  some  hostile  tribe.  The 
nuptial  trip  is  a  barbarism.  I  am  now  weary. 
Lieutenant,  take  Miss  Moran  and  show  her  my 
garden.  I  tell  you,  it  is  worth  walking  through  ; 
and  when  you  have  seen  the  flowers,  Arenta  and  I 
will  give  you  a  cup  of  tea." 

Arenta  would  gladly  have  gone  into  the  garden 
also,  but  her  aunt  detained  her.  "Can  you  not 
see,"  she  asked,  u  that  those  two  are  in  love  with 
each  other  ?  Give  love  its  hour.  They  do  not 
want  your  company." 

"  And  for  that  very  reason  I  wish  to  go  with 
them.  My  brother  is  in  love  with  Cornelia,  and 
I  am  for  Rem,  and  not  for  a  stranger — also,  my 
father  and  Cornelia's  father  are  both  for  Rem  ;  and, 
besides,  Doctor  Moran  hates  the  Hydes.  He  will 
not  let  Cornelia  marry  the  man." 

"  He  will  not  let  !  When  did  Doctor  John  be 
come  omnipotent  ?  Love  laughs  at  fathers,  as  well 
as  at  locksmiths.  And  if  Doctor  John  is  against 
young  Hyde,  then  I  shall  the  more  cheerfully  be 
for  him — a  pleasant,  handsome  youth  as  ever  I 
saw,  is  he ;  and  Doctor  John — well,  he  is  neither 
pleasant  nor  handsome." 

"  Aunt  Angelica !  I  am  astonished  at  you  ! 
Every  one  will  contradict  what  you  say." 

"  For  that  reason,  I  will  maintain  it.  It  is  not 
my  way  to  shout  with  the  multitude." 


128       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

With  some  hesitation,  yet  quite  carried  away  by 
Hyde's  personal  longing  and  impulse,  Cornelia 
went  into  the  garden  with  her  lover.  It  was  a 
green,  shady  place,  full  of  great  maple-trees  and 
flowering  vines  and  shrubs,  and  patches  of  green 
grass.  All  kinds  of  sweet  old-fashioned  flowers 
grew  there,  mingling  their  scent  with  the  straw 
berries'  perfume  and  the  woody  odours  of  the  ripen 
ing  cherries.  They  were  alone  in  this  lovely 
place ;  the  high  privet  hedges  hid  them  from  the 
outside  world,  and  the  babble  and  rumble  of  Broad 
way  came  to  them  only  as  the  murmur  of  noise  in 
a  dream.  Speechless  with  joy,  Hyde  clasped  Cor 
nelia's  slender  fingers,  and  they  went  together 
down  the  few  broad  low  steps  which  led  them  into 
the  green  shadows  of  the  trees.  How  soft  was  the 
grassy  turf  !  How  exquisite  the  westering  sunlight, 
sifting  through  the  maple  leaves !  They  looked 
into  each  other's  eyes  and  smiled,  but  were  too 
happy  to  speak.  For  they  had  suddenly  come  into 
that  land,  which  is  east  of  the  sun,  and  west  of  the 
moon ;  that  land  not  laid  down  on  any  chart,  but 
which  we  feel  to  be  our  rightful  heritage. 

Slowly,  as  they  stepped,  they  came  at  length  to 
a  little  summerhouse.  It  was  covered  with  a 
thick  jessamin  vine ;  and  the  mysterious,  lan 
guorous  perfume  of  its  starlike  flowers  filled  the 
narrow  resting-place  with  the  very  atmosphere  of 
love.  They  sat  down  there,  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  seal  was  broken  and  Hyde's  heart  found  out  all 


Aunt  Angelica  129 

the  sweetest  words  that  love  could  speak.  Cor 
nelia  trembled ;  she  blushed,  she  smiled,  she  suf 
fered  herself  to  be  diawn  close  to  his  side;  and,  at 
last,  in  some  sweet,  untranslatable  way,  she  gave  him 
the  assurance  of  her  love.  Then  they  found  in 
delicious  silence  the  eloquence  that  words  were  in 
competent  to  translate  ;  time  was  forgotten,  and  on 
earth  there  was  once  more  an  interlude  of  heavenly 
harmony  in  which  two  souls  became  one  and  Para 
dise  was  regained. 

Arenta's  voice,  petulant  and  not  pleasant,  broke 
the  charm.  With  a  sigh  they  rose,  dropped  each 
other's  hand,  and  went  out  of  their  heaven  on  earth 
to  meet  her. 

"  Tea  is  waiting,"  she  said,  "  and  Rem  is  wait 
ing,  and  my  aunt  is  tired,  and  you  two  have  for 
gotten  that  the  clock  moves."  Then  they  laughed, 
and  laughter  is  always  fatal  to  feeling  •,  the  magical 
land  of  love  was  suddenly  far  away,  and  there  was 
the  sound  of  china,  and  the  heavy  tones  of  Rem's 
voice — dissatisfied,  if  not  angry — and  Arenta's 
lighter  fret ;  and  they  stood  once  more  among  fetishes 
and  forms  so  foreign,  fabulous  and  fantastical,  that  it 
was  difficult  to  pass  from  the  land  of  love,  and  all 
its  pure  delights,  iiito  their  atmosphere. 

It  would  have  been  harder  but  for  Madame 
Jacobus.  She  understood  ;  and  she  sympathized  ; 
and  there  was  a  kindly  element  in  her  nature  which 
disposed  her  to  side  with  the  lovers.  Her  smile, — 
quick  and  short  as  a  flash  of  the  eyes — revealed  to 


130       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

Hyde  her  intention  of  favour,  and  without  one 
spoken  word,  these  two  knew  themselves  to  be  of 
the  same  mind.  And,  in  parting,  she  held  his 
hand  while  she  talked,  saying  at  last  the  very  words 
he  longed  to  hear  — 

"  We  shall  expect  you  again  on  Thursday,  Lieu 
tenant.  Everything  is  yet  undecided,  and  the 
work  you  have  begun,  it  is  right  that  you  should 
finish." 

He  answered  only,  u  Thank  you,  madame !  " 
but  he  accompanied  the  words  with  a  look  which 
asked  so  much,  and  confessed  so  much,  that 
madame  felt  herself  to  be  a  silent  confidante  and  a 
not  unwilling  accomplice.  And  when  she  had 
closed  the  door  on  her  guests,  she  acknowledged  it. 
"  But  then,"  she  whispered,  "  I  always  did  dearly 
love  a  lover ;  and  this  promises  to  be  a  love  affair 
that  will  need  my  help — plenty  of  good  honest 
hatred  for  it  to  combat — and  wealth  and  rank  and 
all  sorts  of  conflicting  conditions  to  get  the  better  of 

Well,  then,  my  help  is  ready.  In  plain  truth, 

I  don't  like  such  perfection  as  Doctor  John ;  and 
my  nephew  Rem  is  not  interesting.  He  is  sulky, 
and  Hyde  is  good-tempered,  just  like  his  father, 
too ;  and  there  never  was  a  more  fascinating  man 
than  Dick  Hyde.  He-bo !  I  remember! — I  re 
member! — and  yet  I  dare  say  Dick  has  forgotten 
my  very  name — this  is  a  marriage  that  will  exactly 
suit  me — I  don't  care  who  is  against  it  !  "  Then 
she  said  softly  to  herself  — 


"IN    SOME    S  \VKKT    I  NTKANSLATABLE    WAV    SHE    GAVE    HIM    THE 
ASSURANCE    OF    HER    LOVE." 


Aunt  Angelica  131 

"Rem  went  to  Cornelia  as  they  were  about  to 
leave,  and  he  reminded  her  that,  by  her  permission, 
he  had  come  to  walk  home  with  her. 

"  Cornelia  turned  to  Hyde,  excused  herself,  and, 
cool  and  silent,  took  her  place  by  Rem's  side. 

u  Hyde  accepted  the  position  with  a  smile,  and  a 
gracious  bow,  and  then  joined  Arenta. 

"Arenta  was  far  less  agreeable  than  she  ought  to 
have  been  ;  for  both  she  and  her  brother  had  a 
kind  of  divination.  They  knew,  in  spite  of  ap 
pearances,  that  Rem  had  not  got  the  best  of  Joris 
Hyde.  I  am  quick  in  my  observations,  and  I 
know  this  is  so.  Well  then,  it  is  a  very  interest 
ing  affair  as  it  stands — and  it  is  like  to  grow  far 
more  interesting.  I  am  not  opposed  to  that.  I 
shall  enjoy  it.  Hyde  and  Cornelia  ought  to  marry 
— and  they  have  my  good  wishes." 

As  for  Hyde,  no  thought  that  could  mar  the 
sweetness  and  joy  of  this  fortunate  hour  came  into 
his  mind.  Neither  Rem's  evident  hatred,  nor 
Arenta's  disapproval,  nor  yet  Cornelia's  silence, 
troubled  him.  He  had  within  his  heart  a  talisman 
that  made  everything  propitious.  And  he  was. so 
joyous  that  the  people  whom  he  passed  on  the 
street  caught  happiness  from  him.  Men  and 
women  alike  turned  to  look  after  the  youth,  for 
they  felt  the  virtue  of  his  passing  presence,  and 
wondered  what  it  might  mean.  Even  the  neces 
sary  parting  from  Cornelia  was  only  a  phase  of 
this  wonderful  gladness ;  for  Love  never  fails  of 


132       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

his  token,  and,  though  Arenta's  sharp  eyes  could 
not  discover  it,  Hyde  received  the  silent  message 
that  was  meant  for  him,  and  for  him  only.  That 
one  thought  made  his  heart  bound  and  falter  with 
its  exquisite  delight — for  him  only — for  him  only, 
was  that  swift  but  certain  assurance ;  that  in 
stantaneous  bright  flash  of  love  that  held  in  it  all 
heaven  and  earth,  and  left  him,  as  he  told  himself 
again  and  again,  the  happiest  man  in  all  the  world. 

He  was  hardly  responsible  for  his  actions  at  this 
hour;  for  when  a  swift  gallop  brought  him  to  the 
Van  Heemskirk  house,  he  quite  unconsciously 
struck  the  door  some  rapid,  forceful  blows,  with 
his  riding  whip.  His  grandfather  opened  it  with 
an  angry  face. 

"  I  thought  it  was  thee,"  he  said.  "  Now,  then, 
in  such  lordly  fashion,  whom  didst  thou  summon  ? 
dog  or  slave,  was  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  grandfather,  I  intended  no  harm.  Did  I 
strike  so  hard  ?  Upon  my  word,  I  meant  it  not." 

At  this  moment  Madame  Van  Heemskirk  came 
quickly  forward.  She  turned  a  face  of  disapproval 
on  her  husband,  and  asked  sharply,  "  Why  dost 
thou  complain  ?  " 

"  I  like  not  my  house-door  struck  so  rudely, 
Lysbet.  No  man  in  all  America,  but  Joris  Hyde, 
would  dare  to  do  it." 

At  these  words  Joris  flung  himself  from  his 
horse  and  clasped  his  grandfather's  hand.  "  I  did 
wrong,"  he  said  warmly  ;  "  but  I  am  beside  my- 


Aunt  Angelica  133 

self  with  happiness ;  and  I  thought  of  nothing  but 
telling  you.  My  heart  was  in  such  a  hurry  that 
my  hands  forgot  how  to  behave  themselves." 

"  So  happy  as  that,  art  thou  ?  Good  !  Come 
in,  and  tell  us  what  has  happened  to  thee." 

But  Lysbet  divined  the  joy  in  her  grandson's 
face  ;  and  she  said  softly  as  he  seated  himself  at  the 
open  window  where  his  grandfather's  chair  was 
placed  — 

"  It  is  Cornelia  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  Cornelia.  She  loves  me !  The 
most  charming  girl  the  sun  ever  shone  upon  loves 
me.  It  is  incredible !  It  is  amazing !  I  can 
not  believe  in  my  good  fortune.  Will  you  assure 
me  it  is  possible  ?  I  want  to  hear  some  one  say  so 
— and  who  is  there  but  my  grandfather  and  you  ? 
I  do  not  like  to  tell  my  mother,  just  yet.  What 
do  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  say  that  thou  hast  chosen  a  good  girl  for  a 
wife.  God  bless  thee,"  answered  Lysbet  with 
great  emotion. 

Van  Heemskirk  smiled,  but  was  silent ;  and 
Hyde  stooped  forward,  gently  moved  his  long  pipe 
away  from  his  lips,  and  said,  "  Grandfather,  speak. 
You  know  Cornelia  Moran  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  her.  With  thee  I  saw  her — 
walking  with  thee — dancing  with  thee.  A  great 
beauty  I  thought  her.  Thy  grandmother  says  she 
is  good.  Well,  then,  the  love  of  a  good,  beautiful 
girl,  is  something  to  be  glad  over.  Not  twice  in  a 


134       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

lifetime  comes  such  great  fortune.  But  make  up 
thy  mind  to  expect  much  opposition.  Doctor 
John  and  thy  father  were  ever  unfriends.  Thy 
father  has  other  plans  for  thee  ;  Cornelia's  father 
has  doubtless  other  plans  for  her.  Few  men  can 
stand  against  Doctor  John ;  he  has  the  word,  and 
the  way,  to  carry  all  before  him.  I  know  not 
how  the  little  Cornelia  can  dare  to  disobey  him." 

"  She  has  said  '  yes  '  to  me  ;  and,  before  heaven 
and  earth,  she  will  stand  by  it." 

"  Say  that  much.    And  of  thyself,  art  thou  sure  ? " 

"  Why  art  thou  throwing  cold  water  on  such 
sweet  hopes  ?  "  said  Lysbet  to  her  husband. 

"  Because,  when  love  flames  beyond  duty  and 
honour  and  all  expediences,  Lysbet,  some  one  a 
little  cold  water  ought  to  throw.  And  thou  will 
not  do  it.  No !  Rather,  would  thou  add  fuel  to 
the  flame." 

"  I  know  not  what  you  mean,  sir,"  said  Hyde, 
vaguely  troubled  by  his  grandfather's  words. 

u  I  think  thou  knowest  well  what  I  mean.  Thy 
father  has  told  thee  that  thy  duty  and  thy  honour 
are  pledged  to  Annie  Hyde." 

"  I  never  pledged  !     Never  !  " 

"  But,  as  in  thy  baptism  thy  father  made  vows 
for  thee,  so  also  for  thy  marriage  he  made  promises. 
Noble  birth  has  responsibility,  as  well  as  privilege. 
For  thyself  alone  it  is  not  permitted  thee  to  live, 
from  both  the  past  and  the  future  there  are  de 
mands  on  thee." 


Aunt  Angelica  135 

u  Grandfather,  this  living  for  the  future  is  the 
curse  of  the  English  land-owners.  They  enjoy 
not  the  present,  for  they  are  busy  taking  care  of 
the  years  they  will  never  see.  Their  sons  are  in 
their  way ;  it  is  their  grandsons  and  their  great- 
grandsons  that  interest  them.  Why  should  my 
father  plan  for  my  marriage  ?  He  may  be  Earl 
Hyde  for  twenty  years — and  I  hope  he  will.  For 
twenty  years  Cornelia  and  I  can  be  happy  here  in 
America ;  and  twenty  years  is  a  great  opportunity. 
Everything  can  happen  in  twenty  years.  Of  one 
thing  I  am  sure — I  will  marry  Cornelia  Moran,  even 
if  I  run  away  with  her  to  the  ends  of  the  earth." 

"  l  Run  away  with  her.'  To  be  sure  !  That  is 
in  the  blood ; "  and  the  old  man  looked  sternly 
back  to  the  days  when  Hyde's  father  ran  away 
with  his  own  little  daughter. 

With  some  anger  Lysbet  answered  his  thoughts. 
u  What  art  thou  talking  about  ?  What  art  thou 
thinking  of?  Many  good  men  have  run  away 
with  their  wives.  This  almighty  Doctor  John  ran 
away  with  his  wife.  Did  not  Ava  Willing  leave 
her  father's  house  and  her  friends  and  her  faith  for 
him  ?  And  did  not  the  Quakers  read  her  out  of 
their  Meeting  for  her  marriage  ? — and  I  blame  them 
not.  Doctor  John  was  no  match  for  Ava  Willing. 
More,  too,  if  thou  must  look  back ;  remember  one 
May  night,  when  thou  and  I  sat  by  the  Collect  in 
the  moonlight,  and  thou  gave  me  this  ring.  What 
did  thou  say  to  me  that  night  ? " 


136       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  'Tis  years  ago,  Lysbet,  and  if  I  have  for 
gotten  " 

u  Forgotten  !  Well,  then,  men  do  forget  j  but 
they  may  be  thankful  that  God  has  so  made  women 
that  they  do  not  forget.  The  words  thou  said  that 
night  have  been  singing  in  my  heart  for  fifty  years ; 
and  yet,  if  thou  must  be  told,  some  of  those  words 
were  about  running  away  with  thee ; — for,  at  the 
first,  my  father  liked  thee  not." 

"  Lysbet !  My  sweet  Lysbet !  I  have  not  for 
gotten.  For  thy  dear  sake  I  will  stand  by  Joris, 
though  in  doing  so  I  am  sure  I  shall  make  some 
unfriends.'* 

u  Good,  my  husband.  I  take  leave  to  say  that 
thou  art  doing  right." 

"Well,  then,"  said  Hyde,  "if  my  grandmother 
stand  by  me,  and  you  also,  sir;  and  also  Madame 
Jacobus " 

"  Madame  Jacobus  !  "  cried  Lysbet. 

"  Yes,  indeed  !  "  answered  Hyde.  "  'Tis  to  her 
understanding  and  kindness  I  owe  my  opportunity ; 
and  she  gave  me,  also,  one  look  which  I  cannot 
pretend  to  misunderstand — a  look  of  clear  sym 
pathy — a  look  that  promised  help." 

"  She  is  a  clever  woman,"  said  Van  Heemskirk. 
"  If  Joris  has  her  good  will  it  is  not  to  be  thrown 
away." 

"I  like  her  not,"  said  Lysbet.  "With  my 
grandson,  with  my  affairs,  why  should  she  meddle  ? 
Pray,  now,  what  took  thee,  Joris,  to  her  house  ?  It 


Aunt  Angelica  137 

is  full  of  idolatries  and  graven  images.  Doctor 
Kunz  once  wrote  to  her  a  letter  about  them.  He 
said  she  ought  to  remember  the  Second  Command 
ment.  And  she  wrote  to  him  a  letter,  and  told 
him  to  trouble  himself  with  his  own  business. 
Much  anger  and  shame  there  might  have  been  out 
of  this,  but  Angelica  Jacobus  is  rich,  and  she  is 
generous  to  the  church,  and  to  the  poor;  and  Doc 
tor  Kunz  said  to  the  elders,  c  Let  her  alone,  for 
there  is  a  savour  of  righteousness  in  her ; '  and 
when  she  heard  of  that,  she  was  pleased  with  the 
Doctor,  and  sent  him  one  hundred  dollars  for  the 
Indian  Mission.  But,  Joris,  she  is  no  good  to 
thee.  I  hear  many  queer  stories  of  her." 

44  Downright  lies,  all  of  them,"  replied  Hyde. 
Then  he  rose,  saying,  u  I  must  ride  onward.  My 
mother  will  not  sleep  until  she  sees  me." 

u  It  is  nearly  dark,"  said  Van  Heemskirk,  "  and 
to-night  thou  art  in  the  clouds.  The  land  and  the 
water  will  be  alike  to  thee.  Rest  until  the  morn- 
ing." 

44 1  fear  not  the  dark.  I  know  the  road  by  night 
or  by  day." 

u  Yet,  even  so,  mind  what  I  tell  thee — if  thou 
ride  in  the  dark,  be  not  wiser  than  thy  beast." 

Then  they  walked  with  him  to  the  door,  and 
watched  him  leap  to  his  saddle  and  ride  into  the 
twilight  trembling  over  the  misty  meadows,  trink- 
ling  with  dews.  And  a  great  melancholy  fell  over 
them,  and  they  could  not  resume  the  conversation. 


138       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Joris  re-lit  his  pipe,  and  Lysbet  went  softly  and 
thoughtfully  about  her  household  duties.  It  was 
one  of  those  hours  in  which  Life  distills  for  us  her 
vague  melancholy  wine;  and  Joris  and  Lysbet 
drank  deeply  of  it. 

The  moon  was  in  its  third  day,  and  the  silent 
crescent  has  no  calmer  and  sweeter  time ;  yet  Joris 
it  inclined  to  a  sad  presentiment.  "  In  my  heart 
there  is  a  fear,  Lysbet/'  he  said  softly.  "  I  think 
our  boy  has  gone  a  road  he  will  dearly  rue.  I  fore 
see  disputing,  and  wounded  hearts,  and  lives  made 
barren  by  many  disappointed  hopes." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,"  answered  Lysbet  cheer 
fully.  "  Our  little  Joris  is  so  happy  to-night,  why 
wilt  thou  think  evil  for  him  ?  To  think  evil  is  to 
bring  evil.  Out  of  foolishness  or  perchance  such 
a  great  love  has  not  come.  No,  indeed  !  That  it 
comes  from  heaven  I  am  sure ;  and  to  heaven  I 
will  leave  its  good  fortune." 

"  Pleasant  are  thy  hopes,  Lysbet ;  but,  too  often, 
vain  and  foolish." 

"  Thy  reasoning,  is  it  any  wiser  ?  No.  Often  I 
have  found  it  wrong.  One  thing  the  years  have 
said  to  me,  it  is  this — c  Lysbet  put  not  thy  judg 
ment  in  the  place  of  Providence.  If  thou  trust 
Providence,  thou  hast  the  easy  heart  of  a  child  of 
God ;  if  thou  trust  to  thine  own  judgment,  thou 
hast  the  troubled  heart  of  an  anxious  woman/  " 


CHAPTER  VII 

ARENTA'S  MARRIAGE 

FOR  a  few  weeks,  Hyde's  belief  that  the  very 
stars  would  connive  with  a  true  lover  seemed  a  re 
liable  one.  Madame  Jacobus,  attracted  at  their 
first  meeting  to  the  youth,  soon  gave  him  an  aston 
ishing  affection.  And  yet  this  warm  love  of  an  old 
woman  for  youth  and  beauty  was  a  very  natural 
one — a  late  development  of  the  maternal  instinct 
leading  her  even  to  what  seemed  an  abnormal  pref 
erence.  For  she  put  aside  her  nephew's  claims 
with  hardly  a  thought,  and  pleased  herself  day  by 
day  in  so  managing  and  arranging  events  that  Hyde 
and  Cornelia  met,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Arenta 
was  not,  however,  deceived  ;  she  understood  every 
maneuvre,  but  the  success  of  her  own  affairs  de 
pended  very  much  on  her  aunt's  cooperation  and 
generosity,  and  so  she  could  not  afford,  at  this  time, 
to  interfere  for  her  brother. 

"  But  I  shall  alter  things  a  little  as  soon  as  I  am 
married,"  she  told  herself.  "  I  will  take  care  of 
that.  At  this  time  I  must  see,  and  hear,  and  say 
nothing.  I  must  act  politely — for  I  am  always 
polite — and  Athanase  also  is  in  favour  of  politeness 
— but  I  take  leave  to  say  that  Joris  Hyde  shall  not 
carry  so  much  sail  when  a  few  weeks  are  gone  by. 
139 


140       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

So  happy  he  looks  !  So  pleased  with  himself !  So 
sure  of  all  he  says  and  does  !  I  am  angry  at  him 
all  the  time.  Well,  then,  it  will  be  a  satisfaction 
to  abate  a  little  the  confidence  of  this  cock-sure 
young  man." 

Arenta's  feelings  were  in  kind  and  measure 
shared  by  several  other  people ;  Doctor  Moran  held 
them  in  a  far  bitterer  mood ;  but  he,  also, — envi 
roned  by  circumstances  he  could  neither  alter  nor 
command, — was  compelled  to  satisfy  his  disapproval 
with  promises  of  a  future  change.  For  the  wed 
ding  of  Arenta  Van  Ariens  had  assumed  a  great 
social  importance.  Arenta  herself  had  talked  about 
the  affair  until  all  classes  were  on  the  tiptoe  of  ex 
pectation.  The  wealthy  Dutch  families,  the  ex 
clusive  American  set,  the  home  and  foreign  diplo 
matic  circles,  were  alike  looking  forward  to  the 
splendid  ceremony,  and  to  the  great  breakfast  at 
Peter  Van  Ariens'  house,  and  to  the  ball  which 
Madame  Jacobus  was  to  give  in  the  evening.  None 
of  the  younger  people  had  ever  been  in  madame's 
fantastic  ballroom,  and  they  were  eager  for  this 
entry  into  her  wonderful  house.  For  their  mothers 
— seeing  things  through  the  mists  of  Time — had, 
innocently  enough,  exaggerated  the  marvels  of  the 
Chinese  lanterns,  the  feather  flowers  and  gor 
geously  plumed  birds,  the  cases  of  tropical  butterflies 
and  beetles,  and  the  fascination  of  the  pagan  deities, 
until  they  were  ready  to  listen  to  any  tale  about 
Madame  Jacobus  and  to  swallow  it  like  cream. 


Arenta's  Marriage  141 

So  Doctor  Moran,  being  physician  and  family 
friend  to  most  of  the  invited  guests,  had  to  listen  to 
such  reminiscences  and  anticipations  wherever  he 
went.  He  knew  that  he  could  not  talk  against  the 
great  public  current,  and  that  in  the  excited  state 
of  social  feeling  it  would  be  a  kind  of  treason  even 
to  hint  disapproval  of  Arenta,  or  of  any  of  her 
friends  or  doings.  But  he  suffered.  He  was 
questioned  by  some,  he  was  enlightened  by  others  ; 
his  opinion  was  asked  about  dresses  and  ceremonies, 
he  was  constantly  congratulated  on  his  daughter's 
prominence  as  bridesmaid,  and  he  was  sent  for 
professionally,  that  he  might  be  talked  to  socially. 
Yet  if  he  ventured  to  hint  dissatisfaction,  or  to  ex 
press  himself  by  a  scornful  "  Pooh  !  Pooh  !  "  he  was 
answered  by  looks  of  such  astonishment,  of  such 
sjuick-springing  womanly  suspicions,  that  he  could 
not  doubt  the  kind  of  conversation  which  followed 
his  exit : 

"  Do  you  think  Doctor  Moran  very  clever  ?  " 

"  Most  people  think  so." 

"  He  is  so  unsympathetic.  Doctor  Moore  knows 
everything  Madame  Jacobus  is  going  to  have,  and 
to  do.  I  think  doctors  ought  to  be  chatty.  It  is 
so  good  for  their  patients  to  be  cheered  up  a  little." 

Doctor  Moran  divined  perfectly  this  taste  for 
gossip  and  medicinal  sympathy  combined,  and  to 
administer  it  was,  to  him,  more  nauseous  than  his 
own  bitterest  drugs.  So  in  these  days  he  was  not 
a  cheerful  man  to  live  with,  and  Cornelia's  beauty 


142       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

and  radiant  happiness  affected  him  very  much  as 
Hyde's  pronounced  satisfaction  aifected  Arenta. 
One  morning,  as  he  was  returning  home  after  a 
round  of  disagreeable  visits,  he  saw  Cornelia  and 
Hyde  coming  up  Broadway  together.  They  were 
sauntering  side  by  side  in  all  the  lazy  happiness  of 
perfect  love  ;  and  as  he  looked  at  them  the  sorrow  of 
an  immense  disillusion  filled  him  to  the  lips.  He 
had  believed  himself,  as  yet,  to  be  the  first  and  the 
dearest  in  his  child's  love ;  but  in  that  moment  his 
eyes  were  opened,  and  he  felt  as  if  he  had  been 
suddenly  thrust  out  from  it  and  the  door  closed 
upon  him. 

He  did  the  wisest  thing  possible  :  he  went  home 
to  his  wife.  She  heard  him  ride  with  clattering 
haste  into  the  stone  court,  and  soon  after  enter  the 
house  from  the  back,  banging  every  door  after 
him.  She  knew  then  that  something  had  angered 
him — that  he  was  in  that  temper  which  makes  a 
woman  cry,  but  which  a  man  can  only  relieve  by 
noisy  or  emphatic  movement  of  some  kind.  A 
resolute  look  came  into  her  face  and  she  said  to 
herself,  u  John  has  always  had  his  own  way — and 
my  way  also  ;  but  Cornelia's  way— the  child  must 
surely  have  something  to  say  about  that." 

"Where  is  Cornelia,  Ava  ?  "  He  asked  the 
question  with  a  quick  glance  round  the  room,  as  if 
he  expected  to  find  her  present. 

"  Cornelia  is  not  at  home  to-day." 

"  Is  she  ever  at  home  now  ? " 


Arenta's  Marriage  143 

"  You  know  that  Arenta's  wedding " 

"  Arenta's  wedding  !  I  am  tired  to  death  of  it : 
I  have  heard  nothing  this  morning  but  Arenta's 
wedding.  Why  the  deuce  !  should  my  house  be 
turned  upside  down  and  inside  out  for  Arenta's 
wedding  ?  Women  have  been  married  before 
Arenta  Van  Ariens,  and  women  will  be  married 
after  her.  What  is  all  this  fuss  about  ?  " 

"  You  know " 

"  Bless  my  soul !  of  course  I  know.  I  know 
one  thing  at  least,  that  I  have  just  met  Cornelia 
and  that  young  fop  George  Hyde  coming  up  the 
street  together,  as  if  they  two  alone  were  in  the 
world.  They  never  saw  me,  they  could  see  noth 
ing  but  themselves." 

"  Men  and  women  have  done  such  a  thing  be 
fore,  John,  and  they  will  do  it  again.  Cornelia  is 
a  beautiful  girl ;  it  is  natural  that  she  should  have 
a  lover.  " 

"  It  is  very  unnatural  that  she  should  choose  for 
her  lover  the  son  of  my  worst  enemy." 

"  I  am  sure  you  wrong  General  Hyde.  When 
was  he  your  enemy  ?  How  could  he  be  your 
enemy  ?  " 

"  When  was  he  my  enemy  ?  Ever  since  the 
first  hour  we  met.  Often  he  tried  to  injure  me 
with  General  Washington  ;  often  he  accused  me 
of  showing  partiality  to  certain  officers  in  the 
army ;  only  last  year  he  prevented  my  election  to 
the  Senate  by  using  all  his  influence  in  favour  of 


144       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

Joris  Van  Heemskirk.  If  he  has  not  done  me 
more  injury  and  more  injustice,  'tis  because  he  has 
not  had  the  opportunity.  And  you  want  me  to 
give  Cornelia  to  his  son  !  Yes,  you  do,  Ava !  I 
see  it  on  your  face.  You  stretch  my  patience  too 
far.  Can  I  not  see " 

"  Can  an  angry  man  ever  see  ?  No,  he  cannot. 
You  feed  your  own  suspicions,  John.  You  might 
just  as  well  link  Cornelia's  name  with  Rem  Van 
Ariens  as  with  Joris  Hyde.  She  is  continually  in 
Rem's  company.  He  is  devoted  to  her.  She  can 
not  possibly  misunderstand  his  looks  and  words, 
she  must  perceive  that  he  is  her  ardent  lover. 
You  might  have  seen  them  the  last  three  evenings 
sitting  together  at  that  table  preparing  the  invita 
tions  for  the  wedding  breakfast  and  ball ;  arranging 
the  cards  and  favours. — So  happy  !  So  pleasantly 
familiar !  So  confidential !  I  think  Rem  Van 
Ariens  has  as  much  of  Cornelia's  liking  as  George 
Hyde ;  and  perhaps  neither  of  them  have  enough 
of  it  to  win  her  hand.  All  lovers  do  not  grow  to 
husbands." 

"Thank  God,  they  do  not  !  But  what  you  say 
about  Rem  is  only  cobweb  stuff.  She  is  too 
friendly,  too  pleasantly  familiar,  I  would  like  to 
see  her  more  shy  and  silent  with  him.  Every  one 
has  already  given  my  daughter  to  Hyde,  and,  say 
what  you  will,  common  fame  is  seldom  to  blame." 

"  Dinner  is  waiting,  John,  and  whether  you  eat 
it  or  not  Destiny  will  go  straight  to  her  mark. 


Arenta's  Marriage  145 

Love  is  destiny ;  and  the  heart  is  its  own  fate. 
There  are  those  to  whom  we  are  spiritually  related, 
and  the  tie  is  kinder  than  flesh  and  blood.  Can 
you,  or  I,  count  such  kindred  ?  No ;  but  souls 
see  each  other  at  a  glance.  Did  I  not  know  thee, 
John,  the  very  moment  that  we  met  ?  " 

She  spoke  softly,  with  a  voice  sweeter  than 
music,  and  her  husband  was  touched  and  calmed. 
He  took  the  hand  she  stretched  out  to  him  and 
kissed  it,  and  she  added  — 

"  Let  us  be  patient.  Love  has  reasons  that  rea 
son  does  not  understand  ;  and  if  Cornelia  is  Hyde's 
by  predestination,  as  well  as  by  choice,  vainly  we 
shall  worry  and  fret ;  all  our  opposition  will  come 
to  nothing.  Give  Cornelia  this  interval,  and  tithe 
it  not  •,  in  a  few  days  Arenta  will  have  gone  away  ; 
and  as  for  Hyde,  any  hour  may  summon  him  to 
join  his  father  in  England ;  and  this  summons,  as 
it  will  include  his  mother,  he  can  neither  evade  nor 
put  off.  Then  Rem  will  have  his  opportunity." 

"  To  be  patient — to  wait — to  say  nothing — it  is 
to  give  opportunity  too  much  scope.  I  must  tell 
that  young  fellow  a  little  of  my  mind " 

"  You  must  not  make  yourself  a  town's  talk, 
John.  Just  now  New  York  is  all  for  lovers.  If 
you  interfere  between  Hyde  and  Cornelia  while  it 
is  in  this  temper,  every  one  will  cry  out,  '  Oh,  the 
pity  of  it ! '  and  you  will  be  bayed  into  doing  some 
mad  thing  or  other.  Do  I  not  know  you,  dear 
one  ?  " 


146       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  God's  precious !  "  and  he  took  her  in  his  arms, 
saying,  "  the  man  who  learns  nothing  from  his 
wife  will  never  learn  anything  from  anybody. 
Come,  then,  and  we  will  eat  our  meal.  I  had 
forgotten  Rem,  and  as  you  say,  Hyde  may  have  to 
go  to  England  to-morrow ;  putting-off  has  broken 
up  many  an  ill  marriage." 

"  Time  and  absence  against  any  love  affair  that 
is  not  destiny  !  And  if  it  be  destiny,  there  is  only 
submission,  nothing  else.  But  life  has  a  'maybe* 
in  everything  dear ;  a  maybe  that  is  just  as  likely 
to  please  us  as  not." 

Then  Doctor  John  looked  up  with  a  smile. 
"  You  are  right,  Ava,"  he  said  cheerfully.  "  I 
will  take  the  maybe.  Maybes  have  a  deal  to  do 
with  life.  When  you  come  to  think  of  it,  there 
is  not  a  victory  of  any  kind  gained,  nor  a  good 
deed  done  except  on  a  maybe.  So  maybe  all  I 
fear  may  pass  like  a  summer  cloud.  Yet,  take  my 
word  for  it,  there  is,  I  think,  no  maybe  in  Rem's 
chances  with  Cornelia." 

"  We  shall  see.     I  think  there  is." 

Certainly  Rem  was  of  this  opinion.  The  past 
few  weeks  had  been  very  favourable  to  him.  In 
them  he  had  been  continually  associated  with  Cor 
nelia,  and  her  manner  towards  him  had  been  so 
frankly  kind  and  familiar,  so  confidential  and  sym 
pathetic,  that  he  could  not  help  but  contrast  it 
with  their  previous  intercourse,  when  she  had  ap 
peared  to  withdraw  herself  from  all  his  approaches 


Arenta's  Marriage  147 

and  to  forbid  by  her  retiring  manner  even  the 
courtesies  to  which  his  long  acquaintance  with  her 
entitled  him. 

If  he  had  known  more  of  women  he  would  not 
have  given  himself  any  hope  on  this  change  of  at 
titude.  It  simply  meant  that  Cornelia  had  arrived 
at  that  certainty  with  regard  to  her  own  affections 
which  permitted  her  a  more  general  latitude.  She 
knew  that  she  loved  Hyde,  and  she  knew  that 
Hyde  loved  her.  They  had  a  most  complete  con 
fidence  in  each  other;  and  she  was  not  afraid, 
either  for  his  sake  or  her  own,  to  give  to  Rem  that 
friendship  which  the  circumstances  warranted. 
That  this  friendship  could  ever  grow  to  love  on  her 
part  was  an  impossible  thing ;  and  if  she  thought 
of  Rem's  feelings,  it  was  to  suppose  that  he  must 
understand  this  position  as  well  as  she  did  herself. 

Rem,  however,  was  quite  aware  of  his  rival,  and 
with  the  blunt  directness  of  his  nature  watched 
with  jealous  dislike,  and  often  with  rude  impa 
tience,  the  familiar  intercourse  which  his  aunt's 
partiality  permitted  Hyde.  He  was,  indeed,  often 
so  rude  that  a  less  sweet-tempered,  a  less  just  youth 
than  George  Hyde  would  have  pointedly  resented 
many  offences  that  he  passed  by  with  that  "  noble 
not  caring  "  which  is  often  the  truest  courage. 

Still  the  situation  was  one  of  great  tension,  and 
it  required  not  only  the  wise  forbearance  of  Hyde 
and  Cornelia,  but  the  domineering  selfishness  of 
Arenta  and  the  suave  clever  diplomacies  of  Madame 


148       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Jacobus  to  preserve  at  times  the  merely  decent 
conventionalities  of  polite  life.  To  keep  the 
peace  until  the  wedding  was  over — that  was  all 
that  Rem  promised  himself;  then  !  He  often  gave 
voice  to  this  last  word,  though  he  had  no  distinct 
idea  as  to  what  measures  he  included  in  those  four 
letters. 

He  told  himself,  however,  that  it  would  be  well 
for  George  Hyde  to  be  in  England,  and  that  if  he 
were  there,  the  General  might  be  trusted  to  look 
after  the  marriage  of  his  son.  For  he  knew  that 
an  English  noble  would  be  of  necessity  bound  by 
his  caste  and  his  connections,  and  that  Hyde  would 
have  to  face  obligations  he  would  not  be  able  to 
shirk.  "  Then,  then,  his  opportunity  to  win  Cor 
nelia  would  come  !  "  And  it  was  at  this  point  the 
hopeful  u  maybe  "  entered  into  Rem's  desires  and 
anticipations. 

But  wrath  covered  carries  fate.  Every  one  was 
in  some  measure  conscious  of  this  danger  and  glad 
when  the  wedding  day  approached.  Even  Arenta 
had  grown  a  little  weary  of  the  prolonged  excite 
ment  she  had  provoked,  for  everything  had  gone 
so  well  with  her  that  she  had  taken  the  public  very 
much  into  her  confidence.  There  had  been  fre 
quent  little  notices  in  the  Gazette  and  ^Journal  of 
the  approaching  day — of  the  wedding  presents,  the 
wedding  favours,  the  wedding  guests,  and  the  wed 
ding  garments.  And,  as  if  to  add  the  last  touch 
of  glory  to  the  event,  just  a  week  before  Arenta's 


Arenta's  Marriage  149 

nuptials  a  French  armed  frigate  came  to  New 
York  bearing  despatches  for  the  Count  de  Mous- 
tier ;  and  the  Marquis  de  Tounnerre  was  selected 
to  bear  back  to  France  the  Minister's  Message. 
So  the  marriage  was  put  forward  a  few  days  for 
this  end,  and  Arenta  in  the  most  unexpected  way 
obtained  the  bridal  journey  which  she  desired ;  and 
also  with  it  the  advantage  of  entering  France  in  a 
semi-public  and  stately  manner. 

"  I  am  the  luckiest  girl  in  the  world,"  she  said 
to  Cornelia  and  her  brother  when  this  point  had 
been  decided.  They  were  tying  up  "dream-cake  " 
for  the  wedding  guests  in  madame's  queer,  uncanny 
drawing-room  as  she  spoke,  and  the  words  were 
yet  on  her  lips  when  madame  entered  with  a  sandal 
wood  box  in  her  hands. 

"Rem,"  she  said,  "go  with  Cornelia  into  the 
dining-room  a  few  minutes.  I  have  something  to 
say  to  Arenta  that  concerns  no  one  else." 

As  soon  as  they  were  alone  madame  opened  the 
box  and  upon  a  white  velvet  cushion  lay  the  string 
of  oriental  pearls  which  Arenta  on  certain  occa 
sions  had  been  permitted  to  wear.  Arenta's  eyes 
flashed  with  delight.  She  had  longed  for  them  to 
complete  her  wedding  costume,  but  having  a  very 
strong  hope  that  her  aunt  would  offer  her  this  fa 
vour,  she  had  resolved  to  wait  for  her  generosity 
until  the  last  hour.  Now  she  was  going  to  receive 
the  reward  of  her  prudent  patience,  and  she  said  to 
herself,  "  How  good  it  is  to  be  discreet !  "  With 


150       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

an  intense  desire  and  interest  she  looked  at  the 
beautiful  beads,  but  madame's  face  was  troubled 
and  sombre,  and  she  said  almost  reluctantly  — 

"  Arenta,  I  am  going  to  make  you  an  offer. 
This  necklace  will  be  yours  when  I  die,  at  any 
rate  ;  but  I  think  there  is  in  your  heart  a  wish  to 
have  it  now.  Is  this  so  ?  " 

"Aunt,  I  should  like — oh,  indeed  I  long  to 
wear  the  beads  at  my  marriage.  I  shall  only  be 
half-dressed  without  them." 

"  You  shall  wear  the  necklace.  And  as  you  are 
going  to  what  is  left  of  the  French  Court,  I  will  give 
it  to  you  now,  if  the  gift  will  be  to  your  mind." 

"  There  is  nothing  that  could  be  more  to  my 
mind,  dear  aunt.  I  would  rather  have  the  neck 
lace,  than  twice  its  money's  worth.  Thank  you, 
aunt.  You  always  know  what  is  in  a  young  girl's 
heart." 

"  First,  listen  to  what  I  say.  No  woman  of  our 
family  has  escaped  calamity  of  some  kind,  if  they 
owned  these  beads.  My  mother  lost  her  husband 
the  year  she  received  them.  My  Aunt  Hildegarde 
lost  her  fortune  as  soon  as  they  were  hers.  As  for 
myself,  on  the  very  day  they  became  mine  your 
Uncle  Jacobus  sailed  away,  and  he  has  never  come 
back.  Are  you  not  afraid  of  such  fatality  ?  " 

"  No,  I  am  not.  Things  just  happen  that  way. 
What  power  can  a  few  beads  have  over  human  life 
or  happiness  ?  To  say  so,  to  think  so,  is  foolish- 


Arenta's  Marriage  151 

"I  know  not.  Yet  I  have  heard  that  both 
pearls  and  opals  have  the  power  to  attract  to  them 
selves  the  ill  fortune  of  their  wearers.  If  they 
happen  to  be  maiden  pearls  or  gems  that  would  be 
good ;  but  would  you  wish  to  inherit  the  evil 
fortune  of  all  the  women  who  have  possessed  be 
fore  you  ?  " 

"  Poor  pearls !  It  is  they  who  are  the  unfortu 
nates." 

"  Yes,  but  a  time  comes  when  they  have  taken 
all  of  misfortune  they  can  take ;  then  the  pearls 
grow  black  and  die,  really  die.  Yes,  indeed  !  I 
have  seen  dead  pearls.  And  if  the  necklace  were 
of  opals,  when  that  time  came  for  them  the  gems 
would  lose  their  fire  and  colour,  grow  ashy  grey, 
fall  apart  and  become  dust,  nothing  but  dust.'* 

"  Do  you  believe  such  tales,  aunt  ?  I  do  not. 
And  your  pearls  are  yet  as  white  as  moonlight.  I 
do  not  fear  them.  Give  them  to  me,  aunt.  I 
snap  my  fingers  at  such  fables." 

"  Give  them  to  you,  I  will  not,  Arenta ;  but  you 
may  take  them  from  the  box  with  your  own  hands." 

"  I  am  delighted  to  take  them.  I  have  always 
longed  for  them." 

"  Perhaps  then  they  longed  for  you,  for  what  is 
another's  yearns  for  its  owner." 

Then  madame  left  the  room  and  Arenta  lifted 
the  box  and  carried  it  nearer  to  the  light.  And  a 
little  shiver  crept  through  her  heart  and  she  closed 
the  lid  quickly  and  said  irritably  — 


152        The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  It  is  my  aunt's  words.  She  is  always  speaking 
dark  and  doubtful  things.  However,  the  pearls  are 
mine  at  last !  "  and  she  carried  them  with  her 
downstairs,  throwing  back  her  head  as  if  they  were 
round  her  white  throat  and — as  was  her  way — 
spreading  herself  as  she  went. 

All  fine  weddings  are  much  alike.  It  was  only 
in  such  accidentals  as  costume  that  Arenta's 
differed  from  the  fine  weddings  of  to-day.  There 
was  the  same  crush  of  gayly  attired  women,  of  men 
in  full  dress,  or  military  dress,  or  distinguished  by 
diplomatic  insignia: — the  same  low  flutter  of  silk, 
and  stir  of  whispered  words,  and  suppressed  ex 
citement — the  same  eager  crowd  along  the  streets 
and  around  the  church  to  watch  the  advent  of  the 
bride  and  bridegroom.  All  of  the  guests  had  seen 
them  very  often  before,  yet  they  too  looked  at  the 
dazzling  girl  in  white  as  if  they  expected  an  en 
tirely  different  person.  The  murmur  of  pleasure, 
the  indefinable  stir  of  human  emotion,  the  solemn 
mystical  words  at  the  altar  that  were  making  two 
one,  the  triumphant  peal  of  music  when  they 
ceased,  and  the  quick  crescendo  of  rising  con 
gratulation — all  these  things  were  present  then,  as 
now.  And  then,  as  now,  all  these  things  failed  to 
conceal  from  sensitive  minds  that  odour  of  human 
sacrifice,  not  to  be  disguised  with  the  scent  of 
bridal  flowers — that  immolation  of  youth  and  beauty 
and  charming  girlhood  upon  the  altar  of  an  un 
known  and  an  untried  love. 


Arenta's  Marriage  153 

New  York  was  not  then  too  busy  making  money 
to  take  an  interest  in  such  a  wedding,  and  Arenta's 
drive  through  its  pleasant  streets  was  a  kind  of 
public  invitation.  For  Jacob  Van  Ariens  was  one 
of  a  guild  of  wealthy  merchants,  and  they  were  at 
their  shop  doors  to  express  their  sympathy  by  lifted 
hats  and  smiling  faces;  while  the  women  looked 
from  every  window,  and  the  little  children  followed, 
their  treble  voices  heralding  and  acclaiming  the 
beautiful  bride.  Then  came  the  breakfast  and  the 
health-drinking  and  the  speech-making  and  the 
rather  sadder  drive  to  the  wharf  at  which  lay  La 
Belle  France.  And  even  Arenta  was  by  this  time 
weary  of  the  excitement,  so  that  it  was  almost  with 
a  sense  of  relief  she  stepped  across  the  little  carpeted 
gangway  to  her  deck.  Then  the  anchor  was 
lifted,  the  cable  loosened,  and  with  every  sail  set 
La  Belle  France  went  dancing  down  the  river  on 
the  tide-top  to  the  open  sea. 

Van  Ariens  and  his  son  Rem  turned  silently 
away.  A  great  and  evident  depression  had  sud 
denly  taken  the  place  of  their  assumed  satisfaction. 
u  I  am  going  to  the  Swamp  office,"  said  Rem  after 
a  few  moments*  silence,  "  there  is  something  to  be 
done  there." 

"  That  is  well,"  answered  Peter.  "  To  my 
Cousin  Deborah  I  will  give  some  charges  about  the 
silver,  and  then  I  will  follow  you." 

Both  men  were  glad  to  be  alone.  They  had 
outworn  emotion  and  knew  instinctively  that  some 


154       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

common  duty  was  the  best  restorer.  The  same  feel 
ing  affected,  in  one  way  or  another,  all  the  watchers 
of  this  destiny.  Women  whose  household  work 
was  belated,  whose  children  were  strayed,  who  had 
used  up  their  nervous  strength  in  waiting  and  feel 
ing,  were  now  cross  and  inclined  to  belittle  the 
affair  and  to  be  angry  at  Arenta  and  themselves  for 
their  lost  day.  And  men,  young  and  old,  all  went 
back  to  their  ledgers  and  counters  and  manufactur 
ing  with  a  sense  of  lassitude  and  dejection. 

Peter  had  nearly  reached  his  own  house  when  he 
met  Doctor  Moran.  The  doctor  was  more  ir 
ritable  than  depressed.  He  looked  at  his  friend 
and  said  sharply,  "  You  have  a  fever,  Van  Ariens. 
Go  to  bed  and  sleep.'* 

"  To  work  I  will  go.  That  is  the  best  thing  to 
do.  My  house  has  no  comfort  in  it.  Like  a 
milliner's  or  a  mercer's  store  it  has  been  for  many 
weeks.  Well,  then,  my  Cousin  Deborah  is  at 
work  there,  and  in  a  little  while — a  little  while 

"  He  suddenly  stopped  and  looked  at  the 

doctor  with  brimming  eyes.  In  that  moment  he 
understood  that  no  putting  to  rights  could  ever 
make  his  home  the  same.  His  little  saucy,  selfish, 
but  dearly  loved  Arenta  would  come  there  no  more  ; 
and  he  found  not  one  word  that  could  express  the 
tide  of  sorrow  rising  in  his  heart.  Doctor  John 
understood.  He  remained  quiet,  silent,  clasping 
Van  Ariens'  hand  until  the  desolate  father  with  a 
great  effort  blurted  out  — 


Arenta's  Marriage  155 

"  She  is  gone  ! — and  smiling,  also,  she  went." 

"  It  is  the  curse  of  Adam,"  answered  Doctor 
Moran  bitterly — "  to  bring  up  daughters,  to  love 
them,  to  toil  and  save  and  deny  ourselves  for  them, 
and  then  to  see  some  strange  man,  of  whom  we 
have  no  certain  knowledge,  carry  them  off  captive 
to  his  destiny  and  his  desires.  'Tis  a  thankless 
portion  to  be  a  father — a  bitter  pleasure." 

"  Well,  then,  to  be  a  mother  is  worse." 

u  Who  can  tell  that  ?  Women  take  for  com 
pensations  things  that  do  not  deceive  a  father. 
And,  also,  they  have  one  grand  promise  to  help 
them  bear  loss  and  disappointment — the  assurance 
of  the  Holy  Scripture  that  they  shall  have  salva 
tion  through  child-bearing.  And  I,  who  have 
seen  so  much  of  family  love  and  life,  can  tell  you 
that  this  promise  is  all  many  a  mother  has  for  her 
travail  and  sorrowful  love." 

"  It  is  enough.  Pray  God  that  we  miss  not  of 
that  reward  some  share,"  and  with  a  motion  of 
adieu  he  turned  into  his  house.  Very  thoughtfully 
the  Doctor  went  on  to  William  Street  where  he 
had  a  patient, — a  young  girl  of  about  Arenta's  age 
— very  ill.  A  woman  opened  the  door — a  woman 
weeping  bitterly. 

"  She  is  gone,  Doctor." 

"  At  what  hour  ?  " 

"  The  clock  was  striking  three — she  went  smil- 

ing." 

Then    he    bowed    his    head    and    turned    away. 


156       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

There  was  nothing  more  that  he  could  do ;  but  he 
remembered  that  Arenta  had  stepped  on  board  the 
La  Belle  France  as  the  clock  struck  three,  arid 
that  she  also  had  gone  smiling  to  her  unknown 
destiny. 

u  Two  emigrants,"  he  thought,  u  pilgrims  of 
Love  and  Death,  and  both  went  smiling  !  "  An  un 
wonted  tenderness  came  into  his  heart ;  he  thought 
of  the  bright,  lovely  bride  clinging  so  trustfully  to 
her  husband's  arm,  and  he  voiced  this  gentle  feeling 
to  his  wife  in  very  sincere  wishes  for  the  safety  and 
happiness  of  the  little  emigrant  for  Love.  He  had 
a  singular  reluctance  to  name  her — he  knew  not 
why — with  the  other  little  maid  who  also  had  left 
smiling  at  three  o'clock,  an  emigrant  for  whom 
Death  had  opened  eternal  vistas  of  delight. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  Mrs.  Moran,  "  how  Van 
Ariens  could  suffer  his  daughter  to  go  to  a  country 
full  of  turmoil  and  bloodshed." 

u  He  was  very  unhappy  to  do  so,  Ava.  But 
when  things  have  gone  a  certain  length  they 
have  fatality.  The  Marquis  had  promised  to  be 
come  eventually  a  citizen  of  this  Republic,  and 
Van  Ariens  had  no  idea  in  sanctioning  the  marriage 
that  his  daughter  would  leave  New  York.  It  was 
even  supposed  the  Marquis  would  remain  here  in 
the  Count  de  Moustier's  place,  and  the  sudden 
turn  of  events  which  sent  de  Tounnerre  to  France 
was  a  severe  blow  to  Van  Ariens.  But  what 
could  he  do  ?  " 


Arenta's  Marriage  157 

"  He  might  have  delayed  the  marriage  until  the 
return  of  de  Tounnerre." 

"  Ah,  Ava  !  you  are  counting  without  consider 
ation.  He  could  not  have  detained  Arenta  against 
her  will,  and  if  he  had,  a  miserable  life  would  have 
been  before  both  of  th?m — domestic  discomfort, 
public  queries  and  suspicions,  questions,  doubts, 
offending  sympathies — all  the  griefs  and  vexations 
that  are  sure  to  follow  a  Fate  that  is  crossed.  He 
did  the  best  thing  possible  when  he  let  the  wilful 
girl  go  as  pleasantly  as  he  could.  Arenta  needs  a 
wide  horizon." 

"  Is  she  in  any  danger  from  the  state  of  affairs 
in  Paris  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Jefferson  says  in  no  danger  whatever. 
Our  Minister  is  living  there  in  safety.  Arenta 
will  have  his  friendship  and  protection ;  and  her 
husband  has  many  friends  in  the  most  powerful 
party.  She  will  have  a  brilliant  visit  and  be  very 
happy." 

"  How  can  she  be  very  happy  with  the  guillotine 
daily  enacting  such  murders  ?  " 

"  She  need  not  be  present  at  such  murders. 
And  Mr.  Jefferson  may  be  right,  and  we  outsid 
ers  may  make  too  much  of  circumstances  that 
France,  and  France  alone,  can  properly  estimate. 
He  says  that  the  God  that  made  iron  wished  not 
slaves  to  exist,  and  thinks  there  is  a  profound  and 
eternal  justice  in  this  desolation  and  retribution  of 
aristocrats  who  have  committed  unmentionable 


158       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

oppressions.  I  know  not ;  good  and  evil  are  so 
interwoven  in  life  that  every  good,  traced  up  far 
enough,  is  found  to  involve  evil.  This  is  the 
great  mystery  of  life.  However,  Ava,  I  am  a 
great  believer  in  sequences  ;  there  are  few  events 
that  break  off  absolutely.  In  Arenta's  life  there 
will  be  sequences ;  let  us  hope  that  they  will  be 
happy  ones.  Where  is  Cornelia  ?  " 

"  I  know  not.  She  is  asleep.  The  ball  to 
night  is  to  be  fairy-land  and  love-land,  an  Arabian 
night's  dream  and  a  midsummer  night's  dream  all 
in  one.  I  told  her  to  rest,  for  she  was  weary  and 
nervous  with  expectation." 

"  I  dare  say.  But  what  is  the  good  of  being 
young  if  it  is  not  to  expect  miracles  ?  " 

"  George  Hyde  calls  for  her  at  eight  o'clock.  I 
shall  let  her  sleep  until  seven,  give  her  some  re 
freshment,  and  then  assist  her  to  dress." 

"  George  Hyde  !  So  you  still  believe  in  trust 
ing  the  cat  with  the  cream  ?  " 

" 1  still  believe  in  Cornelia.  Come,  now,  and 
drink  a  cup  of  tea.  To-morrow  the  Van  Ariens* 
excitement  will  be  over,  and  we  shall  have  rest." 

"  I  think  not.  The  town  is  now  ready  to  move 
to  Philadelphia.  I  hear  that  Mrs.  Adams  is  pre 
paring  to  leave  Richmond  Hill.  Washington  has 
already  gone,  and  Congress  is  to  meet  in  Decem 
ber.  Even  the  Quakers  are  intending  all  sorts  of 
social  festivities." 

"  But  this  will  not  concern  us." 


Arenta's  Marriage  159 

"  It  may.  If  George  Hyde  does  not  go  very 
soon  to  England,  we  shall  go  to  Philadelphia.  I 
wish  to  rid  myself  and  Cornelia  of  his  airs  and 
graces  and  wearisome  good  temper,  his  singing  and 
reciting  and  tringham-trangham  poetry.  This  story 
has  been  long  enough ;  we  will  turn  over  and 
end  it." 

"  It  will  be  a  great  trial  to  Cornelia." 

"  It  may,  or  it  may  not — there  is  Rem — Rem  is 
your  own  suggestion.  However,  we  have  all  to 
sing  the  hymn  of  Renunciation  at  some  time ;  it  is 
well  to  sing  it  in  youth." 

Mrs.  Moran  did  not  answer.  When  answering 
was  likely  to  provoke  anger,  she  kept  silence  and 
talked  the  matter  over  with  herself.  A  very  wise 
plan.  For  where  shall  we  find  a  friend  so  inti 
mate,  so  discreet,  so  conciliating  as  self?  Who 
can  speak  to  us  so  well  ? — without  obscurity,  with 
out  words,  without  passion.  Yes,  indeed  :  "  I  will 
talk  to  myself"  is  a  very  significant  phrase. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

TWO     PROPOSALS 

THE  ruling  idea  of  any  mind  assumes  the  fore 
ground  of  thought ;  and  after  Arenta's  marriage 
the  dominant  desire  of  George  Hyde  was  to  have 
his  betrothal  to  Cornelia  recognized  and  assured. 
He  was  in  haste  to  light  his  own  nuptial  torch,  and 
afraid  every  day  of  that  summons  to  England  which 
would  delay  the  event.  Hitherto,  both  had  been 
satisfied  with  the  delicious  certainty  of  their  own 
hearts.  To  bring  Love  to  discussion  and  catechism, 
to  talk  of  Love  in  connection  with  house  and  money 
matters,  to  put  him  into  bonds,  however  light  those 
bonds  might  be,  was  indeed  a  safe  and  prudent 
thing  for  their  future  happiness  ;  but,  so  far,  the 
present  with  its  sweet  freedom  and  uncertainty  had 
been  more  charming  to  their  imagination.  Sud 
denly,  however,  Hyde  felt  the  danger  and  stress  of 
this  uncertainty  and  the  fear  of  losing  what  he 
appeared  to  hold  so  lightly. 

u  I  may  have  to  go  away  with  mother  at  any 
time — I  may  be  detained  by  events  I  cannot  help — 
and  I  have  not  bound  Cornelia  to  me  by  any  per 
sonal  recognized  tie — and  Rem  Van  Ariens  will  be 
ever  near  her.  Oh,  indeed,  this  state  of  affairs 
will  never  do  !  I  will  write  to  Cornelia  this  very 
moment  and  tell  her  I  must  see  her  father  this 
160 


Two  Proposals  161 

evening.  I  cannot  possibly  delay  it  longer.  I 
have  been  a  fool — a  careless,  happy  fool — too  long. 
There  is  not  now  a  day  to  lose.  I  have  already 
wasted  more  time  than  was  reasonable  over  the 
love  affairs  of  other  people ;  now  I  must  look  after 
my  own.  Safe  bind,  safe  find ;  I  will  bind  Cor 
nelia  to  me  before  I  leave  her,  then  I  have  a  good 
right  to  find  her  safe  when  I  return  to  claim  her." 

While  such  thoughts  were  passing  through  his 
mind  he  had  risen  hastily  from  the  chair  in  which 
he  had  been  musing.  He  opened  his  secretary  and 
sitting  resolutely  down,  began  a  letter  to  Doctor 
Moran.  He  poured  out  his  heart  and  desires,  and 
then  he  read  what  he  had  written.  It  would  not 
do  at  all.  It  was  a  love  letter  and  not  a  business 
letter.  He  wrote  another,  and  then  another.  The 
first  was  too  long,  it  left  nothing  in  the  inkstand ; 
the  last  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  When  he  had 
finished  reading  them  over,  he  was  in  a  passion 
with  himself. 

u  A  fool  in  your  teeth  twice  over,  Joris  Hyde  !  " 
he  cried,  "  yes,  sir,  three  times,  and  far  too  good 
for  you !  Since  you  cannot  write  a  decent  business 
letter,  write,  then,  to  the  adorable  Cornelia;  the 
words  will  be  at  your  finger  ends  for  that  letter, 
and  will  slip  from  your  pen  as  if  they  were  dancing  : 

u  MY  SWEET  CORNELIA  : 

"  I  have  not  seen  you  for  two  days,  and 
'tis  a  miracle  that  I  have  endured  it.  I  can  tell 
you,  beloved,  that  I  am  much  concerned  about  our 


162       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

affairs,  and  now  that  I  have  begun  to  talk  wisely  I 
may  talk  a  little  more  without  wearying  you.  You 
know  that  I  may  have  to  go  to  England  soon, 
and  go  I  will  not  until  I  have  asked  your  father 
what  favour  he  will  show  us.  On  the  street,  he 
gets  out  of  my  way  as  if  I  had  the  plague.  Tell 
me  at  what  hour  I  may  call  and  see  him  in  his 
house.  I  will  then  ask  him  point  blank  for  your 
hand,  and  he  is  so  candid  that  I  shall  have  in  a 
word  Yes  or  No  on  the  matter.  Do  not  keep  me 
waiting  longer  than  seven  this  very  night.  I  have 
a  fever  of  anxiety,  and  I  shall  not  grow  better,  but 
worse,  until  I  settle  our  engagement.  Oh,  my 
peerless  Cornelia,  pearl  and  flower  of  womanhood, 
I  speak  your  speech,  I  think  your  thought ;  you  are 
the  noblest  thing  in  my  life,  and  to  remember  you 
is  to  remember  the  hours  when  I  was  the  very  best 
and  the  very  happiest.  Your  image  has  become 
part  of  me,  your  memory  is  a  perfume  which 
makes  sweet  my  heart.  I  wish  this  moment  to 
give  you  thousands  and  thousands  of  kisses.  Bid 
me  come  to  you  soon,  very  soon,  sooner  than  seven, 
if  possible,  for  your  love  is  my  life.  Send  your 
answer  to  my  city  lodging.  I  shall  follow  this 
letter  and  be  impatiently  waiting  for  it.  Oh,  Cor 
nelia,  am  I  not  ever  and  entirely  yours  ? 

"  GEORGE  HYDE." 


It  was  not  more  than  eight  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  when  he  wrote  this  letter,  and  as  soon  as  pos 
sible  he  despatched  a  swift  messenger  with  it  to 
Cornelia.  He  hoped  that  she  would  receive  it  soon 
after  the  Doctor  had  left  his  home  for  his  usual 
round  of  professional  visits  •,  then  she  might  pos- 


Two  Proposals  163 

sibly  write  to  him  at  once,  and  if  so,  he  would  get 
the  letter  very  soon  after  he  reached  the  city. 

Probably  Madame  Hyde  divined  something  of 
the  importance  and  tenor  of  a  missive  sent  in  such 
a  hurry  of  anxious  love,  so  early  in  the  day,  but 
she  showed  neither  annoyance  nor  curiosity  regard 
ing  it.  In  the  first  place,  she  knew  that  opposition 
would  only  strengthen  whatever  resolve  her  son 
had  made  ;  in  the  second  place,  she  was  conscious 
of  a  singular  restlessness  of  her  own  spirit.  She 
was  apprehending  change,  and  she  could  think  of 
no  change  but  that  call  to  leave  her  home  and  her 
native  land  which  she  so  much  dreaded.  If  this 
event  happened,  then  the  affairs  of  Joris  would  as 
sume  an  entirely  different  aspect.  He  would  be 
obliged  to  leave  everything  which  now  interested 
him,  and  he  could  not  live  without  interests  ;  very 
well,  then,  he  would  be  compelled  to  accept  such 
as  a  new  Fate  thrown  into  his  new  life.  She  had  a 
great  faith  in  circumstances.  She  knew  that  in 
the  long  run  every  one  wrote  beneath  that  potent 
word,  "  Your  obedient  servant."  Circumstances 
would  either  positively  deny  all  her  son's  hopes,  or 
they  would  so  powerfully  aid  them  that  opposition 
would  be  useless  ;  and  she  mentally  bowed  herself 
to  an  influence  so  powerful  and  perhaps  so  favour 
able. 

"  Joris,  my  dear  one,"  she  said,  as  they  rose 
from  the  breakfast  table,  u  Joris,  I  think  there  is  a 
letter  from  your  father.  To  the  city  you  must  go 


164       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

as  soon  as  you  can,  for  I  have  had  a  restless  night, 
full  of  feeling  it  has  been." 

"You  should  not  go  to  bed  to  feel,  mother. 
Night  is  the  time  for  sleep." 

u  And  for  dreams,  and  for  many  good  things  to 
come,  that  come  not  in  the  day.  Yes,  indeed,  the 
nighttime  of  the  body  is  the  daytime  of  the  soul." 

Then  Joris  smiled  and  kissing  her,  said,  "  I  am 
going  at  once.  If  there  is  a  letter  I  will  send  a 
quick  rider  with  it." 

"  But  come  thyself." 

"  That  I  cannot." 

"  But  why,  then  ?  " 

"  To-morrow,  I  will  tell  you." 

u  That  is  well.  Into  thy  mother's  heart  drop  all 
thy  joys  and  sorrows.  Thine  are  mine."  And 
she  kissed  him,  and  he  went  away  glad  and  hopeful 
and  full  of  tender  love  for  the  mother  who  under 
stood  him  so  sympathetically.  He  stood  up  in  his 
stirrups  to  wave  her  a  last  adieu,  and  then  he  said 
to  himself,  "  How  fortunate  I  am  about  women  ! 
Could  I  have  a  sweeter,  lovelier  mistress  ?  No  ! 
Mother  ?  No  !  Grandmother  ?  No  !  Friend  ?  No  ! 
Cornelia,  mother,  grandmother,  Madame  Jacobus, 
all  of  them  just  what  I  love  and  need,  sweet 
souls  between  me  and  the  angels." 

It  happened — but  doubtless  happened  because  so 
ordered — that  the  very  hour  in  which  Joris  left 
Hyde  Manor,  Peter  Van  Ariens  received  a  letter 
that  made  him  very  anxious.  He  left  his  office  and 


Two  Proposals  165 

went  to  see  his  son.  "  Rem,"  he  said,  "  there  is 
now  an  opportunity  for  thee.  Here  has  come  a 
letter  from  Boston,  and  some  one  must  go  there ; 
and  that  too  in  a  great  hurry.  The  house  of 
Blume  and  Otis  is  likely  to  fail,  and  in  it  we  have 
some  great  interests.  A  lawyer  we  must  have  to 
look  after  them  ;  go  thyself,  and  it  shall  be  well  for 
both  of  us." 

"  I  am  ready  to  go — that  is,  I  can  be  ready  in 
one  or  two  days." 

"  There  are  not  one  or  two  days  to  spare.  Ge 
rard  will  take  care  of  thy  work  here.  To-day  is 
the  best  time  of  all." 

"  I  cannot  go  with  a  happy  mind  to-day.  I  will 
tell  you,  father.  I  think  now  my  case  with  Cor 
nelia  will  bear  putting  to  the  question.  As  you 
know,  it  has  been  step  with  step  between  Joris 
Hyde  and  myself  in  that  affair,  and  if  I  go  away 
now  without  securing  the  ground  I  have  gained, 
what  can  hinder  Hyde  from  taking  advantage  over 
me  ?  He  too  must  go  soon,  but  he  will  try  and  se 
cure  his  position  before  he  leaves.  To  do  the  same 
thing  is  my  only  way.  I  wish,  then,  the  time  to 
give  myself  this  security." 

"  That  is  fair.  A  man  is  not  a  man  till  he  has 
won  a  wife.  Cornelia  Moran  is  much  to  my 
mind.  Tell  her  my  home  is  thine,  and  she  will  be 
a  mistress  dearly  loved  and  honoured.  And  if  a 
thing  is  to  be  done,  there  is  no  time  like  the  hour 
that  has  not  struck.  Go  and  see  her  now.  She 


166       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

was  in  the  garden  gathering  asters  when  I  left  home 
this  morning." 

u  I  will  write  to  her.  I  will  tell  her  what  is  in  my 
heart — though  she  knows  it  well — and  ask  her  for 
her  love  and  her  hand.  If  she  is  kind  to  my  offer 
she  will  tell  me  to  come  and  see  her  to-night,  then 
I  can  go  to  Boston  with  a  free  heart  and  look  after 
your  money  and  your  business." 

"  If  things  be  this  way,  thou  art  reasonable.  A 
good  wife  must  not  be  lost  for  the  peril  of  some 
gold  sovereigns.  At  once  write  to  the  maid  ;  such 
letters  are  best  done  at  the  first  thought,  some  pru 
dences  or  some  fears  may  come  with  the  second 
thoughts." 

"  I  have  no  fear  but  Joris  Hyde.  That  Eng 
lishman  I  hate.  His  calm  confidence,  his  smiling 
insolent  air  is  intolerable." 

"  It  is  the  English  way.  But  Cornelia  is 
American — as  thou  art." 

"  She  thinks  much  of  that,  but  yet " 

"  Be  not  afraid.  The  brave  either  find,  or  make, 
a  way  to  success.  What  is  in  a  girl's  heart  no 
man  can  tell,  if  she  be  cold  and  shy  that  should  not 
cause  thee  to  doubt.  When  water  is  ice,  who 
would  suspect  what  great  heat  is  stored  away  in  it  ? 
Write  thy  letter  at  once.  Put  thy  heart  into  thy 
pen.  Not  always  prudent  is  this  way,  but  once  in 
a  man's  life  it  is  wisdom." 

u  My  pen  is  too  small  for  my  heart." 

"  My     opinion   is    that   thou   hast   wavered   too 


Two  Proposals  167 

long.  It  is  a  great  foolishness  to  let  the  cherry 
knock  against  the  lips  too  often  or  too  long.  A 
pretty  pastime,  perhaps,  to  will,  and  not  will,  to 
dare,  and  not  dare  ;  but  at  last  the  knock  comes 
that  drops  the  cherry — it  may  be  into  some  other 
mouth." 

"  I  fear  no  one  but  that  rascal,  Joris  Hyde." 

"  A  rascal  he  is  not,  because  the  same  woman  he 
loves  as  thyself.  Such  words  weaken  any  cause. 
No  wrong  have  I  seen  or  known  of  Lieutenant 
Hyde." 

"  I  will  call  him  a  rascal,  and  I  will  give  him  no 
other  title,  though  his  father  leave  him  an  earl." 

"  Now,  then,  I  shall  go.  I  like  not  ill  words. 
Write  thy  letter,  but  put  out  of  thy  mind  all  bad 
thoughts  first.  A  love  letter  from  a  bitter  heart  is 
not  lucky.  And  of  all  thy  wit  thou  wilt  have 
great  need  if  to  a  woman  thou  write." 

"  Oh,  they  are  intolerable,  aching  joys  !  A  man 
who  dares  to  love  a  woman,  or  dares  to  believe  in 
her,  dares  to  be  mad." 

u  Come,  come  !  No  evil  must  thou  speak  of 
good  women.  I  swear  that  I  was  never  out  of  it 
yet,  when  I  judged  men  as  they  judged  women. 
The  art  of  loving  a  woman  is  the  art  of  trusting 
her — yes,  though  the  heavens  fall.  Now,  then, 
haste  with  thy  letter.  Thou  may  have  '  Yes '  to 
it  ere  thou  sleep  to-night." 

"And  I  may  have  'No.'" 

"To  be  sure,  if  thou  think  l  no.'     But,  even 


i68       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

so,  if  thou  lose  the  wedding  ring,  the  hand  is  still 
left;  another  ring  may  be  found." 

"  'No,'  would  be  a  deathblow  to  me." 

"It  will  not.  While  a  man  has  meat  and  drink 
love  will  not  starve  him ;  with  world's  business 
and  world's  pleasure  an  unkind  love  he  makes  shift 
to  forget.  Bring  to  me  word  of  thy  good  fortune 
this  night,  and  in  the  morning  there  is  the  Boston 
business.  Longer  it  can  hardly  wait." 

But  the  letter  to  Cornelia  which  Hyde  found  to 
slip  off  his  pen  like  dancing  was  a  much  more  diffi 
cult  matter  to  Rem.  He  wrote  and  destroyed,  and 
wrote  again  and  destroyed,  and  this  so  often  that 
he  finally  resolved  to  go  to  Maiden  Lane  for  his 
inspiration.  "  I  may  see  Cornelia  in  the  garden, 
or  at  the  window,  and  when  I  see  what  I  desire, 
surely  I  shall  have  the  wit  to  ask  for  it." 

So  he  thought,  and  with  the  thought  he  locked 
his  desk  and  went  towards  his  home  in  Maiden 
Lane.  He  met  George  Hyde  sauntering  up  the 
street  looking  unhappy  and  restless,  and  he  sus 
pected  at  once  that  he  had  been  walking  past 
Doctor  Moran's  house  in  the  hope  of  seeing  Cor 
nelia  and  had  been  disappointed.  The  thought  de 
lighted  him.  He  was  willing  to  bear  disappoint 
ment  himself,  if  by  doing  so  some  of  Hyde's  smil 
ing  confidence  was  changed  to  that  unhappy  un 
easiness  which  he  detected  in  his  rival's  face  and 
manner.  The  young  men  bowed  to  each  other 
but  did  not  speak.  In  some  occult  way  they  di- 


Two  Proposals  169 

vined  a  more  positive  antagonism  than  they  had 
ever  before  been  conscious  of. 

"  I  cannot  go  out  of  the  house,"  thought  Rem, 
"  without  meeting  that  fop.  He  is  in  at  one  door, 
and  out  at  another ;  this  way,  that  way,  up  street, 
and  down  street — the  devil  take  the  fellow  ! " 

u  What  a  mere  sullen  creature  that  Rem  Van 
Ariens  is  !  "  thought  Hyde,  "and  with  all  the  good 
temper  in  the  world  I  affirm  it.  I  wonder  what  he 
is  on  the  street  for  at  this  hour  !  Shall  I  watch 
him  ?  No,  that  would  be  vile  work.  I  will  let 
him  alone  ;  he  may  as  well  play  the  ill-natured 
fool  OK  the  street  as  in  the  house — better,  indeed, 
for  some  one  may  have  a  title  to  tell  him  so.  But 
I  may  assure  myself  of  one  thing,  when  I  met 
him  he  was  building  castles  in  the  future,  for  he 
was  looking  straight  before  him ;  and  if  he  had 
been  thinking  of  the  past,  he  would  have  been 
looking  down.  I  should  not  wonder  if  it  was 
Cornelia  that  filled  his  dreams.  Faith,  we  have 
blockheads  of  all  ages ;  but  on  that  road  he  will 
never  overtake  his  thought " — then  with  a  move 
ment  of  impatience  he  added, 

"Why  should  I  let  him  into  my  mind  ? — for  he 
is  the  least  welcome  of  all  intruders. — Good  gra 
cious  !  how  long  the  minutes  are  !  It  is  plain  to 
me  that  Cornelia  is  not  at  home,  and  my  letter 
may  not  even  have  touched  her  hands  yet.  How 
shall  I  endure  another  hour  ? — perhaps  many  hours. 
Where  can  she  have  gone  ?  Not  unlikely  to 


I  jo       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Madame  Jacobus.  Why  did  I  not  think  of  this 
before  ?  For  who  can  help  me  to  bear  suspense 
better  than  madame  ?  I  will  go  to  her  at  once." 

He  hastened  his  steps  and  soon  arrived  at  the 
well-known  residence  of  his  friend.  He  was 
amazed  as  soon  as  the  door  was  opened  to  find 
preparations  of  the  most  evident  kind  for  some 
change.  The  corded  trunk  in  the  hall,  the  dis 
placed  furniture,  all  things  he  saw  were  full  of  the 
sad  hurry  of  parting.  "  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  he 
asked  in  a  voice  of  fear. 

"  I  am  going  away  for  a  time,  Joris,  my  good 
friend,"  answered  madame,  coming  out  of  a 
shrouded  and  darkened  parlour  as  she  spoke.  She 
had  on  her  cloak  and  bonnet,  and  before  Joris 
could  ask  her  another  question  a  coach  drove  to 
the  door.  "  I  think  it  is  a  piece  of  good  fortune," 
she  continued,  "  to  see  you  before  I  go." 

"  But  where  are  you  going  ?  " 

"  To  Charleston." 

"  But  why  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  because  my  sister  Sabrina  is  sick — 
dying  ;  and  there  is  no  one  so  near  to  her  as  I  am." 

"  I  knew  not  you  had  a  sister." 

"  She  is  the  sister  of  my  husband.  So,  then, 
she  is  twice  my  sister.  When  Jacobus  comes 
home  he  will  thank  me  for  going  to  his  dear  Sa 
brina.  But  what  brings  you  here  so  early  ?  Yes 
terday  I  asked  for  you,  and  I  was  told  that  you 
were  waiting  on  your  good  mother." 


Two  Proposals  171 

"  My  mother  felt  sure  there  was  a  letter  from 
father,  and  I  came  at  once  to  get  it  for  her." 

"Was  there  one  ?  " 

"  There  was  none." 

"  It  will  come  in  good  time.  Now,  I  must  go. 
I  have  not  one  moment  to  lose.  Good-bye,  dear 
Joris !  " 

"  For  how  long,  my  friend  ?  " 

u  I  know  not.  Sabrina  is  incurably  ill.  I  shall 
stay  with  her  till  she  departs."  She  said  these 
words  as  they  went  down  the  steps  together,  and 
with  eyes  full  of  tears  he  placed  her  carefully  in 
the  coach  and  then  turned  sorrowfully  to  his  own 
rooms.  He  could  not  speak  of  his  own  affairs  at 
such  a  moment,  and  he  realized  that  there  was 
nothing  for  him  to  do  but  wait  as  patiently  as  pos 
sible  for  Cornelia's  answer. 

In  the  meantime  Rem  was  writing  his  proposal. 
He  was  not  assisted  in  the  effort  by  any  sight  of 
his  mistress.  It  was  evident  Cornelia  was  not  in 
her  home,  and  he  looked  in  vain  for  any  shadow 
of  the  sweet  face  that  he  was  certain  would  have 
made  his  words  come  easily.  Finally,  after  many 
trials,  he  desisted  with  the  following,  though  it  was 
the  least  affective  of  any  form  he  had  written  : 

To  Miss  MORAN, 

Honoured  and  Beloved  Friend  : 

Twenty  times  this  day  I  have  tried  to  write 
a  letter  worthy  to  come  into  your  hands  and 
worthy  to  tell  you  how  beyond  all  words  I  love 


172       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

you.  But  what  can  I  say  more  than  that  I  love 
you  ?  This  you  know.  It  has  been  no  secret  to 
you  since  ever  you  were  a  little  girl.  Many  years 
I  have  sought  your  love, — pardon  me  if  now  I  ask 
you  to  tell  me  I  have  not  sought  in  vain.  To 
morrow  I  must  leave  New  York,  and  I  may  be 
away  for  some  time.  Pray,  then,  give  me  some 
hope  to-night  to  take  with  me.  Say  but  one  word 
to  make  me  the  proudest  and  happiest  lover  in  the 
world.  Give  me  the  permission  to  come  and  show 
to  your  father  that  I  am  able  to  maintain  you  in 
every  comfort  that  is  your  right ;  and  all  my  life 
long  I  will  prove  to  you  the  devotion  that  attests 
my  undying  affection  and  gratitude.  I  am  sick 
with  longing  for  the  promise  of  your  love.  May 
I  presume  to  hope  so  great  a  blessing  ?  O  dearest 
Cornelia,  I  am,  as  you  know  well,  your  humble 
servant,  REMBRANDT  VAN  ARIENS. 

When  he  had  finished  this  letter,  he  folded  and 
sealed  it,  and  walked  to  the  window  with  it  in  his 
hand.  Then  he  saw  Cornelia  returning  home 
from  some  shopping  or  social  errand,  and  hastily 
calling  a  servant,  ordered  him  to  deliver  the  letter  at 
once  to  Miss  Moran.  And  as  Cornelia  lingered  a 
little  among  the  aster  beds,  the  man  put  it  into  her 
own  hands.  She  bowed  and  smiled  as  she  accepted 
it,  but  Rem,  watching  with  his  heart  in  his  eyes, 
could  see  that  it  awakened  no  special  interest.  She 
kept  it  unopened  as  she  wandered  among  the  purple 
and  pink,  and  gold  and  white  flowers,  until  Mrs. 
Moran  came  to  the  door  to  hurry  her  movements ; 
then  she  followed  her  mother  hastily  into  the  house. 


Two  Proposals  173 

"  Do  you  know  how  late  it  is,  Cornelia  ?  Dinner 
is  nearly  ready.  There  is  a  letter  on  your  dressing 
table  that  came  by  Lieutenant  Hyde's  servant  two 
or  three  hours  ago.*' 

"And  Tobias  has  just  brought  me  a  letter  from 
Rem — at  least  the  direction  is  in  Rem's  handwrit 
ing." 

"  Some  farewell  dance  I  suppose,  before  our 
dancers  go  to  gay  Philadelphia." 

"  I  dare  say  it  is."  She  made  the  supposition 
as  she  went  up  the  stairs,  and  did  not  for  a  moment 
anticipate  any  more  important  information.  As 
she  entered  her  room  an  imposing  looking  letter 
met  her  eyes — a  letter  written  upon  the  finest 
paper,  squarely  folded,  and  closed  with  a  large  seal 
of  scarlet  wax  carrying  the  Hyde  arms.  Poor 
Rem's  message  lost  instantly  whatever  interest  it 
possessed ;  she  let  it  fall  from  her  hand,  and  lifting 
Hyde's,  opened  it  with  that  marvellous  womanly 
impetuosity  which  love  teaches.  Then  all  the 
sweet  intimate  ardour  and  passionate  disquietude  of 
her  lover  took  possession  of  her.  In  a  moment 
she  felt  all  that  he  felt ;  all  the  ecstasy  and  tumult 
of  a  great  affection  not  sure.  For  this  letter  was 
the  "  little  more  "  in  Hyde's  love,  and,  oh,  how 
much  it  was  ! 

She  pondered  it  until  she  was  called  to  dinner. 
There  was  then  no  time  to  read  Rem's  letter,  but 
she  broke  the  seal  and  glanced  at  its  tenor,  and  an 
expression  of  pity  and  annoyance  came  into  her 


174       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

eyes.  Hastily  she  locked  both  letters  away  in  a 
drawer  of  her  desk,  and  as  she  did  so,  smilingly 
said  to  herself,  "  I  wonder  if  papers  are  sensitive  ! 
Shut  close  together  in  one  little  drawer  will  they 
like  it  ?  I  hope  they  will  lie  peaceably  and  not 
quarrel." 

Doctor  Moran  was  not  at  home,  nor  was  he  ex 
pected  until  sundown,  so  mother  and  daughter  en 
joyed  together  the  confidence  which  Hyde's  letter 
induced.  Mrs.  Moran  thought  the  young  man 
was  right,  and  promised,  to  a  certain  extent,  to 
favour  his  proposal.  "  However,  Cornelia,"  she 
added,  "  unless  your  father  is  perfectly  agreeable 
and  satisfied,  I  would  not  advise  you  to  make  any 
engagement.  Clandestine  engagements  come  to 
grief  in  some  way  or  other,  and  if  your  marriage 
with  Joris  Hyde  is  prearranged  by  those  who  know 
what  is  best  for  your  good,  then,  my  dear,  it  is  as 
sure  to  take  place  as  the  sun  is  sure  to  rise  to 
morrow.  It  is  only  waiting  for  the  appointed 
hour,  and  you  may  as  well  wait  in  a  happy  home 
as  in  one  you  make  wretched  by  the  fret  and  com 
plaining  which  a  secret  in  any  life  is  certain  to 
produce." 

Now,  it  is  not  often  that  a  girl  has  to  answer  in 
one  hour  two  such  epistles  as  those  received  by 
Cornelia.  Yet  perhaps  such  an  event  occurs  more 
frequently  than  is  suspected,  for  Love — like  other 
things — has  its  critical  moment  j  and  when  that 
moment  arrives  it  finds  a  voice  as  surely  as  the 


Two  Proposals 

flower  ready  to  bloom  opens  its  petals.  And  if 
there  be  two  lovers  equally  sincere,  both  are  likely 
to  feel  at  the  same  moment  the  same  impetus  to 
revelation.  Besides  which,  Fate  of  any  kind  seeks 
the  unusual  and  the  unexpected  ;  it  desires  to  startle, 
and  to  force  events  by  surprises. 

The  answering  of  these  letters  was  naturally 
Cornelia's  first  afternoon  thought.  It  troubled  her 
to  remember  that  Joris  had  already  been  waiting 
some  hours  for  a  reply,  for  she  had  no  hesitation 
as  to  what  that  reply  should  be.  To  write  to  Joris 
was  a  delightful  thing,  an  unusual  pleasure,  and 
she  sat  down,  smiling,  to  pen  the  lines  which  she 
thought  would  bring  her  much  happiness,  but 
which  were  doomed  to  bring  her  a  great  sorrow. 

MY  JORIS  !     My  dear  Friend  : 

'Tis  scarce  an  hour  since  I  received  your  let 
ter,  but  I  have  read  it  over  four  times.  And  what 
ever  you  desire,  that  also  is  my  desire ;  and  I  am 
deceived  as  much  as  you,  if  you  think  I  do  not 
love  you  as  much  as  I  am  loved  by  you.  You 
know  my  heart,  and  from  you  I  shall  never  hide 
it ;  and  I  think  if  I  were  asleep,  I  should  tell  you 
how  much  I  love  you ;  for,  indeed,  I  often  dream 
that  I  do  so.  Come,  then,  this  very  night  as  soon 
as  you  think  convenient.  If  my  father  is  in  a  suit 
able  temper  it  will  be  well  to  speak  plainly  to  him, 
and  I  am  sure  that  my  mother  will  say  in  our  favour 
all  that  is  wise. 

Our  love,  with  no  recognition  but  our  own,  has 
been  so  strangely  sweet  that  I  could  be  content 
never  to  alter  that  condition ;  and  yet  I  fear  no 


176       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

bond,  and  am  ready  to  put  it  all  to  the  trial.  For 
if  our  love  is  not  such  as  will  uphold  an  engage 
ment,  it  will  sink  of  itself;  and  if  it  is  true  as  we 
believe  it  to  be,  then  it  may  last  eternally.  What 
more  is  to  say  I  will  keep  for  your  ear,  for  you 
are  enough  in  my  heart  to  know  all  my  thoughts, 
and  to  know  better  than  I  can  tell  you  how  dearly, 
how  constantly,  how  entirely  I  love  you. 

Yours  forever, 
CORNELIA. 

Without  a  pause,  without  an  erasure  this  letter 
had  transcribed  itself  from  Cornelia's  heart  to  the 
small  gilt-edged  note  paper ;  but  she  found  it  a 
much  more  difficult  thing  to  answer  the  request  of 
Rem  Van  Ariens.  She  was  angry  at  him  for 
putting  her  in  such  a  dilemma.  She  thought  that 
she  had  made  plain  as  possible  to  him  the  fact  that 
she  was  pleased  to  be  a  companion,  a  friend,  a 
sister,  if  he  so  desired,  but  that  love  between 
them  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  She  had  told 
Arenta  this  many  times,  and  she  had  done  so  be 
cause  she  was  certain  Arenta  would  make  this  po 
sition  clear  to  her  brother.  And  under  ordinary 
circumstances  Arenta  would  have  been  frank  and 
free  enough  with  Rem,  but  while  her  own  marriage 
was  such  an  important  question  she  was  not  in 
clined  to  embarrass  or  shadow  its  arrangements  by 
suggesting  things  to  Rem  likely  to  cause  disagree 
ments  when  she  wished  all  to  be  harmonious  and 
cheerful.  So  Arenta  had  encouraged,  rather  than 
dashed,  Rem's  hopes,  for  she  did  not  doubt  that 


Two  Proposals  177 

Cornelia  would  finally  undo  very  thoroughly  what 
she  had  done. 

u  A  little  love  experience  will  be  a  good 
thing  for  Rem,"  she  said  to  herself — "it  will 
make  a  man  of  him;  and  I  do  hope  he  has 
more  self-respect  and  courage  than  to  die  of  her 
denial." 

It  is  easy,  then,  to  understand  how  Cornelia,  re 
lying  on  Arenta's  usually  ready  advice  and  confi 
dences,  was  sure  that  Rem  had  accepted  the  friend 
ship  that  was  all  in  her  power  to  give  him,  and 
that  this  belief  gave  to  their  intercourse  a  frank 
and  kindly  intimacy  that  it  would  not  otherwise 
have  obtained.  This  state  of  things  was  desirable 
and  comfortable  for  Arenta,  and  Cornelia  also  had 
found  a  great  satisfaction  in  a  friendship  which 
she  trusted  had  fully  recognized  and  accepted  its 
limitations.  Now,  all  these  pleasant  moderate 
emotions  were  stirred  into  uncomfortable  agitation 
by  Rem's  unlooked-for  and  unreasonable  request. 
She  was  hurt  and  agitated  and  withal  a  little  sorry 
for  Rem,  and  she  was  also  in  a  hurry,  for  the  letter 
for  Joris  was  waiting,  as  she  wished  to  send  both 
by  the  same  messenger.  Finally  she  wrote  the  fol 
lowing  words,  not  noticing  at  the  time,  but  remem 
bering  afterwards,  what  a  singular  soul  reluctance 
she  experienced  ;  how  some  uncertain  presenti 
ment,  vague  and  dark  and  drear,  stifled  her 
thoughts  and  tried  to  make  her  understand,  or  at 
least  pause.  But  alas  !  the  doom  that  walks  side 


178       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

by  side  with  us,  never  warns ;  it  seems  rather  to 
stand  sarcastic  at  our  ignorance,  and  to  watch 
speculatively  the  cloud  of  trouble  coming — coming 
on  purpose  because  we  foolishly  or  carelessly  call 
it  to  us. 

MY    DEAR    AND    HONOURED    FRIEND  : 

Your  letter  has  given  me  very  great  sorrow. 
You  must  have  known  for  many  weeks,  even 
months,  that  marriage  between  us  was  impossible. 
It  has  always  been  so,  it  always  will  be  so.  Why 
could  you  not  be  content  ?  We  have  been  so 
happy !  So  happy  !  and  now  you  will  end  all. 
But  Fortune,  though  often  cruel,  cannot  call  back 
times  that  are  past,  and  I  shall  never  forget  our 
friendship.  I  grieve  at  your  going  away  ;  I  pray 
that  your  absence  may  bring  you  some  consolation. 
Do  not,  I  beg  you,  attempt  to  call  on  my  father. 
Without  explanations,  I  tell  you  very  sincerely, 
such  a  call  will  cause  me  great  trouble ;  for  you 
know  well  a  girl  must  trust  somewhat  to  others' 
judgment  in  her  disposal.  It  gives  me  more  pain 
than  I  can  say  to  write  in  this  mood,  but  necessity 
permits  me  no  kinder  words.  I  want  you  to  be 
sure  that  the  wrench,  the  "  No  "  here  is  absolute. 
My  dear  friend,  pity  rather  than  blame  me ;  and  I 
will  be  so  unselfish  as  to  hope  you  may  not  think 
so  kindly  of  me  as  to  be  cruel  to  yourself.  Please 
to  consider  your  letter  as  never  written,  it  is  the 
greatest  kindness  you  can  do  me  ;  and,  above  all, 
I  beg  you  will  not  take  my  father  into  your  confi 
dence.  With  a  sad  sense  of  the  pain  my  words 
must  cause  you,  I  remain  for  all  time  your  faithful 
friend  and  obedient  servant, 

CORNELIA  MORAN. 


Two  Proposals  179 

Then  she  rang  for  a  lighted  candle,  and  while 
waiting  for  its  arrival  neatly  folded  her  letters. 
Her  white  wax  and  seal  were  at  hand,  and  she  de 
layed  the  servant  until  she  had  closed  and  addressed 
them. 

"  You  will  take  Lieutenant  Hyde's  letter  first," 
she  said ;  "  and  make  no  delay  about  it,  for  it  is 
very  important.  Mr.  Van  Ariens*  note  you  can 
deliver  as  you  return." 

As  soon  as  this  business  was  quite  out  of  her 
hands,  she  sank  with  a  happy  sigh  into  a  large 
comfortable  chair;  let  her  arms  drop  gently,  and 
closed  her  eyes  to  think  over  what  she  had  done. 
She  was  quite  satisfied.  She  was  sure  that  no 
length  of  reflection  could  have  made  her  decide 
differently.  She  had  Hyde's  letter  in  her  bosom, 
and  she  pressed  her  hand  against  it,  and  vowed  to 
her  heart  that  he  was  worthy  of  her  love,  and  that 
he  only  should  have  it.  As  for  Rem,  she  had  a 
decided  feeling  of  annoyance,  almost  of  fear,  as  he 
entered  her  mind.  She  was  angry  that  he  had 
chosen  that  day  to  urge  his  unwelcome  suit,  and 
thus  thrust  his  personality  into  Hyde's  special 
hour. 

"  He  always  makes  himself  unwelcome,"  she 
thought,  "  he  ever  has  the  way  to  come  when  he 
was  least  wanted  ;  but  Joris  !  Oh  there  is  nothing 
I  would  alter  in  him,  even  at  the  cost  of  a  wish  ! 
Joris  !  Joris  !  "  and  she  let  the  dear  name  sweeten 
her  lips,  while  the  light  of  love  brightened  and 


i8o       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

lengthened  her  eyes,  and  spread  over  her  lovely  face 
a  blushing  glow. 

After  a  while  she  rose  up  and  adorned  herself  for 
her  lover's  visit.  And  when  she  entered  the 
parlor  Mrs.  Moran  looked  at  her  with  a  little 
wonder.  For  she  had  put  on  with  her  loveliest 
gown  a  kind  of  bewildering  prettiness.  There  was 
no  cloud  in  her  eyes,  only  a  glow  of  soft  dark  fire. 
Her  soul  was  in  her  face,  it  spoke  in  her  bright 
glances,  her  sweet  smiles,  and  her  light  step ;  it 
softened  her  speech  to  music,  it  made  her  altogether 
so  delightful  that  her  mother  thought  "  Fortune 
must  give  her  all  she  wishes,  she  is  so  charming." 

The  tea  tray  was  brought  in  at  five  o'clock,  but 
Doctor  Moran  had  not  returned,  and  there  was  in 
both  women's  hearts  a  little  sense  of  disappoint 
ment.  Mrs.  Moran  was  wondering  at  his  unusual 
delay,  Cornelia  feared  he  would  be  too  weary  and 
perhaps,  too  much  interested  in  other  matters  to 
permit  her  lover  to  speak.  "  But  even  so,"  she 
thought,  u  Joris  can  come  again.  To-night  is  not 
the  only  opportunity." 

It  was  nearly  seven  o'clock  when  the  doctor 
came,  and  Cornelia  was  sure  her  lover  would  not 
be  much  behind  that  hour ;  but  tea  time  was  ever  a 
good  time  to  her  father,  he  was  always  amiable  and 
gracious  with  a  cup  in  his  hand,  and  the  hour  after 
it  when  his  pipe  kept  him  company,  was  his  best 
hour.  She  told  her  heart  that  things  had  fallen  out 
better  than  if  she  had  planned  them  so  j  and  she 


Two  Proposals  181 

was  so  thoughtful  for  the  weary  man's  comfort,  so 
attentive  and  so  amusing,  that  he  found  it  easy  to 
respond  to  the  happy  atmosphere  surrounding  him. 
He  had  a  score  of  pleasant  things  to  tell  about  the 
fashionable  exodus  to  Philadelphia,  about  the  hand 
some  dresses  that  had  been  shown  him,  and  the 
funny  household  dilemmas  that  had  been  told  him. 
And  he  was  much  pleased  because  Harry  De 
Lancey  had  been  a  great  part  of  the  day  with  him, 
and  was  very  eloquent  indeed  about  the  young 
man's  good  sense  and  good  disposition,  and  the  un 
necessary,  and  almost  cruel,  confiscation  of  prop 
erty  his  family  had  suffered,  for  their  Tory  princi 
ples. 

And  in  the  midst  of  the  De  Lancey  lamentation, 
seven  o'clock  struck  and  Cornelia  began  to  listen 
for  the  shutting  of  the  garden  gate,  and  the  sound 
of  Hyde's  step  upon  the  flagged  walk.  It  did  not 
come  as  soon  as  she  hoped  it  would,  and  the 
minutes  went  slowly  on  until  eight  struck.  Then 
the  doctor  was  slooming  and  nodding,  and  waking 
up  and  saying  a  word  or  two,  and  relapsing  again  into 
semi-unconsciousness.  She  felt  that  the  favourable 
hour  had  passed,  and  now  the  minutes  went  far 
too  quickly.  Why  did  he  not  come  ?  With  her 
work  in  her  hand — making  laborious  stitches  by  a 
drawn  thread — she  sat  listening  with  all  her  being. 
The  street  itself  was  strangely  silent,  no  one 
passed,  and  the  fitful  talk  at  the  fireside  seemed  full 
of  fatality ;  she  could  feel  the  influence,  though 


182       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

she  did  not  inquire  of  her  heart  what  it  was,  or 
what  it  might  signify. 

Half-past  eight  !  She  looked  up  and  caught  her 
mother's  eyes,  and  the  trouble  and  question  in 
them,  and  the  needle  going  through  the  fine  muslin, 
seemed  to  go  through  her  heart.  At  nine  the 
watching  became  unbearable.  She  said  softly  "  I 
must  go  to  bed.  I  am  tired  ;  "  but  she  put  away 
with  her  usual  neatness  her  work,  and  her  spools 
of  thread,  her  thimble  and  her  scissors.  Her 
movement  in  the  room  roused  the  doctor  thoroughly. 
He  stood  up,  stretched  his  arms  outward  and  up 
ward,  and  said  "  he  believed  he  had  been  sleeping, 
and  must  ask  their  pardon  for  his  indifference." 
And  then  he  walked  to  the  window  and  looking 
out  added  "  It  is  a  lovely  night  but  the  moon  looks 
like  storm.  Oh  !  " — and  he  turned  quickly  with 
the  exclamation — "  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  I  heard 
a  strange  report  to-day,  nothing  less  than  that 
General  Hyde  returned  on  the  Mary  Pell  this 
morning,  bringing  with  him  a  child." 

"  A  child  !  "  said  Mrs.  Moran. 

"A  girl,  then,  a  little  mite  of  a  creature.  Mrs. 
Davy  told  me  the  Captain  carried  her  in  his  arms 
to  the  carriage  which  took  them  to  Hyde  Manor." 

"  And  how  should  Mrs.  Davy  know  ?  " 

"  The  Davys  live  next  door  to  the  Pells,  and 
the  servants  of  one  house  carried  the  news  to  the 
other  house.  She  said  the  General  sent  to  his 
son's  lodging  to  see  if  he  was  in  town,  but  he  was 


Two  Proposals  183 

not.  It  was  then  only  eight  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing." 

"  How  unlikely  such  a  story  is  !  Do  you  believe 
it  ?  " 

"  Ask  to-morrow.  As  for  me,  I  neither  know 
nor  care.  That  is  the  report.  Who  can  tell  what 
the  Hydes  will  do  ?  " 

Then  Cornelia  said  a  hasty  "  good-night "  and 
went  to  her  room.  She  was  sick  at  heart ;  she 
trembled,  something  in  her  life  had  lost  its  foot 
hold,  and  a  sudden  bewildering  terror — she  knew 
not  how  to  explain — took  possession  of  her.  For 
once  she  forgot  her  habitual  order  and  neatness ; 
her  pretty  dress  was  thrown  heedlessly  across  a 
chair,  and  she  fell  upon  her  knees  weeping,  and 
yet  she  could  not  pray. 

Still  the  very  posture  and  the  sweet  sense  of  help 
and  strength  it  implied,  brought  her  the  power  to 
take  into  consideration  such  unexpected  news,  and 
such  unexplained  neglect  on  her  lover's  part. 
u  General  Hyde  has  returned  ;  that  much  I  feel 
certain  of,"  she  thought,  "  and  Joris  must  have  left 
Hyde  Manor  about  the  time  his  father  reached 
New  York.  Joris  would  take  the  river  road,  being 
the  shortest,  his  father  would  take  the  highway  as 
the  best  for  the  carriage.  Consequently,  they 
passed  each  other  and  did  not  know  it.  Then 
Joris  has  been  sent  for,  and  it  was  right  and 
natural  that  he  should  go — but  oh,  he  might  have 
written  ! — ten  words  would  have  been  enough 


184       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

It  was  right  he  should  go — but  he  might  have 
written  ! — he  might  have  written  !  " — and  she  buried 
her  face  in  her  pillow  and  wept  bitterly.  Alas  ! 
Alas  !  Love  wounds  as  cruelly  when  he  fails,  as 
when  he  strikes ;  and  even  when  Cornelia  had  out 
worn  thought  and  feeling,  and  fallen  into  a  sorrow 
ful  sleep,  she  was  conscious  of  this  failure,  and  her 
soul  sighed  all  night  long  u  He  might  have 
written !  " 


CHAPTER  IX 

MISDIRECTED    LETTERS 

THE  night  so  unhappy  to  Cornelia  was  very 
much  more  unhappy  to  Hyde.  He  had  sent  his 
letter  to  her  before  eleven  in  the  morning,  and  if 
Fortune  were  kind  to  him,  he  expected  an  answer 
soon  after  leaving  Madame  Jacobus.  Her  de 
parture  from  New  York  depressed  him  very  much. 
She  had  been  the  good  genius  of  his  love,  but  he 
told  himself  that  it  had  now  "grown  to  perfection, 
and  could,  he  hoped,  stand  in  its  own  strength." 
Restlessly  he  watched  the  hours  away,  now  blam 
ing,  now  excusing,  anon  dreaming  of  his  coming 
bliss,  then  fidgeting  and  fearing  disappointment 
from  being  too  forward  in  its  demanding.  When 
noon  passed,  and  one  o'clock  struck,  he  rang  for 
some  refreshment ;  for  he  guessed  very  accurately 
the  reason  of  delay. 

"  Cornelia  has  been  visiting  or  shopping,"  he 
thought ;  "  and  if  it  were  visiting,  no  one  would 
part  with  her  until  the  last  moment ;  so  then  if  she 
get  home  by  dinner-time  it  is  as  much  as  I  can  ex 
pect.  I  may  as  well  eat,  and  then  wait  in  what 
patience  I  can,  another  hour  or  two — yes,  it  will  be 
two  hours.  I  will  give  her  two  hours — for  she 
185 


i86       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

will  be  obliged  to  serve  others  before  me.  Well, 
well,  patience  is  my  penance." 

But  in  truth  he  expected  the  letter  to  be  in  ad 
vance  of  three  o'clock.  "  Twenty  words  will  an 
swer  me,"  he  thought ;  "  yes,  ten  words  ;  and  she 
will  find  or  make,  the  time  to  write  them  ;  "  and 
between  this  hope  and  the  certainty  of  three  o'clock, 
he  worried  the  minutes  away  until  three  struck. 
Then  there  was  a  knock  at  his  door  and  he  went 
hastily  to  answer  it.  Balthazar  stood  there  with 
the  longed-for  letter  in  his  hand.  He  felt  first  of 
all  that  he  must  be  quite  alone  with  it.  So  he 
turned  the  key  and  then  stood  a  moment  to  exam 
ine  the  outside.  A  letter  from  Cornelia !  It  was 
a  joy  to  see  his  own  name  written  by  her  hand. 
He  kissed  the  superscription,  and  kissed  the  white 
seal,  and  sank  into  his  chair  with  a  sigh  of  delight 
to  read  it. 

In  a  few  moments  a  change  beyond  all  expres 
sion  came  over  his  face — perplexity,  anger,  despair 
cruelly  assailed  him.  It  was  evident  that  some 
irreparable  thing  had  ruined  all  his  hopes.  He  was 
for  some  moments  dumb.  He  felt  what  he  could 
not  express,  for  a  great  calamity  had  opened  a 
chamber  of  feeling,  which  required  new  words  to 
explain  it.  This  trance  of  grief  was  followed  by 
passionate  imprecations  and  reproaches,  wearing 
themselves  away  to  an  utter  amazement  and  in 
credulity.  He  had  flung  the  letter  to  the  floor, 
but  he  lifted  it  again  and  went  over  the  cruel 


Misdirected  Letters  187 

words,  forcing  himself  to  read  them  slowly  and 
aloud.  Every  period  was  like  a  fresh  sentence  of 
death. 

"  '  Tour  letter  has  given  me  very  great  sorrow ; ' 
let  me  die  if  that  is  not  what  she  says  ;  c  very  great 
sorrow.  You  must  have  known  for  weeks,  even  months, 
that  marriage  between  us  was  impossible ; '  am  I  per 
fectly  in  my  senses  ?  *  //  always  has  been  and  al 
ways  will  be  ; '  why,  'tis  heart  treason  of  the  worst 
kind  !  Can  I  bear  it  ?  Can  I  bear  it  ?  Can  I 
bear  it  ?  Oh  Cornelia  !  Cornelia  !  ^We  have  heen 
so  happy.'  Oh  it  is  piteous,  sad.  So  young,  so  fair, 
so  false  !  and  she  c  grieves  at  my  going  away,9  and 
bids  me  on  4  no  account  call  on  her  father ' — and 
takes  pains  to  tell  me  the  '  No  is  absolute ' — and  I 
am  not  to  l  blame  her.'  Oh  this  is  the  vilest  treach 
ery  !  She  might  as  well  have  played  the  coquette 
in  speech  as  writing.  It  is  Rem  Van  Ariens  who 
is  at  the  bottom  of  it.  May  the  devil  take  the 
fellow  !  I  shall  need  some  heavenly  power  to  keep 
my  hands  off  him.  This  is  a  grief  beyond  all 
griefs — I  believed  she  loved  me  so  entirely.  Fool ! 
a  thousand  times  fool  !  Have  I  not  found  all 
women  of  a  piece  ?  Did  not  Molly  Trefuses 
throw  me  over  for  a  duke  ?  and  Sarah  Talbot  tell 
me  my  love  was  only  calf-love  and  had  to  be 
weaned  ?  and  Eliza  Capel  regret  that  I  was  too 
young  to  guide  a  wife,  and  so  marry  a  cabinet  min 
ister  old  enough  for  her  grandfather  ?  Women  are 
all  just  so,  not  a  cherry  stone  to  choose  between 


i88       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

them I  will  never  wonder  again  at  anything 

a  woman  does Was  ever  a  lover  so  betrayed  ? 

Oh  Cornelia !  your  ink  should  have  frozen  in  your 
pen,  ere  you  wrote  such  words  to  me." 

Thus  his  passionate  grief  and  anger  tortured  him 
until  midnight.  Then  he  had  a  high  fever  and  a 
distracting  headache,  and,  the  physical  torment  be 
ing  the  most  insistent  and  distressing,  he  gave  way 
before  it.  With  such  agonizing  tears  as  spring 
from  despairing  wounded  love  he  threw  himself 
upon  his  bed,  and  his  craving,  suffering  heart  at 
length  found  rest  in  sleep  from  the  terrible  egotism 
of  its  sorrow. 

Never  for  one  instant  did  he  imagine  this  sorrow 
to  be  a  mistaken  and  quite  unnecessary  one.  In 
deed  it  was  almost  impossible  for  him  to  conceive 
of  a  series  of  events,  which  though  apparently  ac 
cidental,  had  a  fatality  more  pronounced  than  any 
thing  that  could  have  been  arranged.  Not  taking 
Rem  Van  Ariens  seriously  into  his  consideration, 
and  not  fearing  his  rival  in  any  way,  it  was  beyond 
all  his  suspicions  that  Rem  should  write  to  Cor 
nelia  in  the  same  hour,  and  for  the  same  purpose  as 
himself.  He  had  no  knowledge  of  Rem's  inten 
tion  to  go  to  Boston,  and  could  not  therefore  imag 
ine  Cornelia  "  grieving  "  at  any  journey  but  his 
own  impending  one  to  England.  And  that  she 
should  be  forced  by  circumstances  to  answer  both 
Rem  and  himself  in  the  same  hour,  and  in  the  very 
stress  and  hurry  of  her  great  love  and  anxiety 


Misdirected  Letters  189 

should  misdirect  the  letters,  were  likelihoods  out 
side  his  consciousness. 

It  was  far  otherwise  with  Rem.  The  moment 
he  opened  the  letter  brought  him  by  Cornelia's 
messenger,  in  that  very  moment  he  knew  that  it 
was  not  his  letter.  He  understood  at  once  the 
position,  and  perceived  that  he  held  in  his  hand 
an  instrument,  which  if  affairs  went  as  he  desired, 
was  likely  to  make  trouble  he  could  perchance  turn 
to  his  own  advantage.  The  fate  that  had  favoured 
him  so  far  would  doubtless  go  further — if  he  let  it 
alone.  These  thoughts  sprang  at  once  into  his  re 
flection,  but  were  barely  entertained  before  nobler 
ones  displaced  them.  As  a  Christian  gentleman  he 
knew  what  he  ought  to  do  without  cavil  and  with 
out  delay,  and  he  rose  to  follow  the  benignant  jus 
tice  of  his  conscience.  Into  this  obedience,  how 
ever,  there  entered  an  hesitation  of  a  second  of 
time,  and  that  infinitesimal  period  was  sufficient  for 
his  evil  genius. 

"  Why  will  you  meddle  ?  "  it  asked.  "  This  is 
a  very  dubious  matter,  and  common  prudence  sug 
gests  a  little  consideration.  It  will  be  far  wiser  to 
let  Hyde  take  the  first  step.  If  the  letter  he  has 
received  is  so  worded,  that  he  knows  it  is  your  let 
ter,  it  is  his  place  to  make  the  transfer — and  he 
will  be  sure  to  do  it.  Why  should  you  continue 
the  chase  ?  let  the  favoured  one  look  after  his  own 
affairs — being  a  lawyer,  you  may  well  tell  yourself, 
that  it  is  not  your  interest  to  move  the  question." 


190       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

And  he  hesitated  and  then  sat  down,  and  as  there 
is  wickedness  even  in  hesitating  about  a  wicked 
act,  Rem  easily  drifted  from  the  negative  to  the 
positive  of  the  crime  contemplated. 

"  I  had  better  keep  it,"  he  mused,  "  and  see  what 
will  come  of  the  keeping.  All  things  are  fair  in 
love  and  war  " — a  stupid  and  slanderous  assertion, 
as  far  as  love  is  concerned,  for  love  that  is  noble 
and  true,  will  not  justify  anything  which  Christian 
ethics  do  not  justify. 

He  suffered  in  this  decision,  suffered  in  his  own 
way  quite  as  much  as  Hyde  did.  Cornelia  had 
been  his  dream  from  his  youth  up,  and  Hyde  had 
been  his  aversion  from  the  moment  he  first  saw 
him.  The  words  were  not  to  seek  with  which  he 
expressed  himself,  and  they  were  such  words  as  do 
not  bear  repeating.  But  of  all  revelations,  the 
revelation  of  grief  is  the  plainest.  He  saw  clearly 
in  that  hour  that  Cornelia  had  never  loved  him, 
that  his  hopes  had  always  been  vain,  and  he  expe 
rienced  all  the  bitterness  of  being  slighted  and 
humbled  for  an  enemy. 

After  a  little  while  he  remembered  that  Hyde 
might  possibly  do  the  thing  which  he  had  resolved 
not  to  do.  Involuntarily  he  did  Hyde  this  justice, 
and  he  said  to  himself,  "  if  there  is  anything  in  the 
letter  intended  for  me,  which  determines  its  owner 
ship,  Hyde  will  bring  it.  He  will  understand  that 
I  have  the  answer  to  his  proposal,  and  demand  it 
from  me — and  whether  I  shall  feel  in  a  mood  to 


Misdirected  Letters  191 

give  it  to  him,  will  depend  on  the  manner  in  which 
the  demand  is  made.  If  he  is  in  one  of  his  lordly 
ways  he  will  get  no  satisfaction  from  me.  I  am 
not  apt  to  give  myself,  nor  anything  I  have,  away ; 
in  fact  it  will  be  best  not  to  see  him — if  he  holds 
a  letter  of  mine  he  may  keep  it.  I  know  its  tenor 
and  I  am  not  eager  to  know  the  very  words  in 
which  my  lady  says  '  No.'  Ho  !  Ho  !  Ho  !  "  he 
laughed,  "  I  will  go  to  the  Swamp  ;  my  scented 
rival  in  his  perfumed  clothing,  will  hardly  wish  the 
smell  of  the  tanning  pits  to  come  between  him  and 
his  gentility." 

The  thought  of  Hyde's  probable  visit  and  this 
way  of  escaping  it  made  him  laugh  again  ;  but  it 
was  a  laughter  that  had  that  something  terrible  in 
it  which  makes  the  laughter  of  the  insane  and 
drunken  and  cruel,  worse  than  the  bitterest  lamen 
tation.  He  felt  a  sudden  haste  to  escape  himself, 
and  seizing  his  hat  walked  rapidly  to  his  father's 
office.  Peter  looked  up  as  he  entered,  and  the 
question  in  his  eyes  hardly  needed  the  simple  in- 
terrogotary  — 

"Well  then?" 

"  It  is  '  No.'  I  shall  go  to  Boston  early  in  the 
morning.  I  wish  to  go  over  the  business  with 
Blume  and  Otis,  and  to  possess  myself  of  all  par 
ticulars." 

"  I  have  just  heard  that  General  Hyde  came 
back  this  morning.  He  is  now  the  Right  Honour 
able  the  Earl  of  Hyde,  and  his  son  is,  as  you 


192       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

know,  Lord  George  Hyde.  Has  this  made  a  dif 
ference  ?  " 

"  It  has  not.  Let  us  count  up  what  is  owing  to 
us.  After  all  there  is  a  certain  good  in  gold/' 

"That  is  the  truth.  I  am  an  old  man  and  I 
have  seen  what  altitudes  the  want  of  gold  can 
abase,  and  what  impossible  things  it  makes  possi 
ble.  In  any  adversity  gold  can  find  friends." 

"  I  shall  count  every  half-penny  after  Blume  and 
Otis." 

u  Be  not  too  strict — too  far  east  is  west.  You 
may  lose  all  by  demanding  all." 

Then  the  two  men  spent  several  hours  in  going 
over  their  accounts,  and  during  this  time  no  one 
called  on  Rem  and  he  received  no  message.  When 
he  returned  home  he  found  affairs  just  as  he  had 
left  them.  u  So  far  good,"  he  thought,  "  I  will  let 
sleeping  dogs  lie.  Why  should  I  set  them  baying 
about  my  affairs?  I  will  not  do  it" — and  with 
this  determination  in  his  heart  he  fell  asleep. 

But  Rem's  sleep  was  the  sleep  of  pure  matter; 
his  soul  never  knew  the  expansion  and  enlighten 
ment  and  discipline  of  the  oracles  that  speak  in 
darkness.  The  winged  dreams  had  no  message  or 
comfort  for  him,  and  he  took  no  counsel  from  his 
pillow.  His  sleep  was  the  sleep  of  tired  flesh  and 
blood,  and  heavy  as  lead.  But  the  waking  from 
such  sleep — if  there  is  trouble  to  meet — is  like  be 
ing  awakened  with  a  blow.  He  leaped  to  his  feet, 
and  the  thought  of  his  loss  and  the  shame  of  it, 


Misdirected  Letters  193 

and  the  horror  of  the  dishonourable  thing  he  had 
done,  assailed  him  with  a  brutal  force  and  swift 
ness.  He  was  stunned  by  the  suddenness  and  the 
inexorable  character  of  his  trouble.  And  he  told 
himself  it  was  "  best  to  run  away  from  what  he 
could  not  fight."  He  had  no  fear  of  Hyde's  in 
terference  so  early  in  the  morning,  and  once  in 
Boston  all  attacks  would  lose  much  of  their  hostile 
virulence,  by  the  mere  influence  of  distance.  He 
knew  these  were  cowardly  thoughts,  but  when  a 
man  knows  he  is  in  the  wrong,  he  does  not  chal 
lenge  his  thoughts,  he  excuses  them.  And  as  soon 
as  he  was  well  on  the  road  to  Boston,  he  even  be 
gan  to  assume  that  Hyde,  full  of  the  glory  of  his 
new  position,  would  doubtless  be  well  disposed  to 
let  all  old  affairs  drop  quietly  u  and  if  so,"  he 
mused,  u  Cornelia  will  not  be  so  dainty,  and  I  may 
get  l  Yes  '  where  I  got  c  No.'  " 

He  was  of  course  arguing  from  altogether  wrong 
premises,  for  Hyde  at  that  hour  was  unconscious 
of  his  new  dignity,  and  if  he  had  been  aware  of  it, 
would  have  been  indifferent  to  its  small  honour. 
He  had  spent  a  miserable  night,  and  a  sense  of  al 
most  intolerable  desertion  and  injury  awoke  with 
him.  His  soul  had  been  in  desolate  places,  wan 
dering  in  immense  woods,  vaguely  apprehended  as 
stretches  of  time  before  this  life.  He  had  called 
the  lost  Cornelia  through  all  their  loneliness,  and 
answers  faint  as  the  faintest  echo,  had  come  back 
to  that  sense  of  spiritual  hearing  attuned  in  other 


194       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

worlds  than  this.  But  sad  as  such  experience  was, 
the  sole  effort  had  strengthened  him.  He  was  in 
deed  in  better  case  mentally  than  physically. 

"  I  must  get  into  the  fresh  air,"  he  said.  "  I 
am  faint  and  weak.  I  must  have  movement.  I 
must  see  my  mother.  I  will  tell  her  everything." 
Then  he  went  to  his  mirror,  and  looked  with  a 
grim  smile  at  its  reflection.  "  I  have  the  face  of  a 
lover  kicked  out  of  doors,"  he  continued  scorn 
fully.  He  took  but  small  pains  with  his  toilet,  and 
calling  for  some  breakfast  sat  down  to  eat  it.  Then 
for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  he  was  conscious  of 
that  soul  sickness  which  turns  from  all  physical 
comfort;  and  of  that  singular  obstruction  in  the 
throat  which  is  the  heart's  sob,  and  which  would 
not  suffer  him  to  swallow. 

"  I  am  most  wretched,"  he  said  mournfully ; 
"  and  no  trouble  comes  alone.  Of  all  the  days  in 
all  the  years,  why  should  Madame  Jacobus  have  to 
take  herself  out  of  town  yesterday  ?  It  is  almost 
incredible,  and  she  could,  and  would  have  helped 
me.  She  would  have  sent  for  Cornelia.  I  might 
have  pleaded  my  cause  face  to  face  with  her."  Then 
angrily — "  Faith  !  can  I  yet  care  for  a  girl  so  cruel 
and  so  false  ?  I  am  not  to  be  pitied  if  I  do.  I  will 
go  to  my  dear  mother.  Mother-love  is  always 
sure,  and  always  young.  Whatever  befalls,  it 
keeps  constant  truth.  I  will  go  to  my  mother." 

He  rode  rapidly  through  the  city  and  spoke  to 
no  one,  but  when  he  reached  his  Grandfather  Van 


Misdirected  Letters 

Heemskirk's  house,  he  saw  him  leaning  over  the 
half-door  smoking  his  pipe.  He  drew  rein  then, 
and  the  old  gentleman  came  to  his  side  : 

"  Why  art  thou  here  ?  "  he  asked.  u  Is  thy 
father,  or  Lady  Annie  sick  ?  " 

"  I  know  nothing  new.  There  was  no  letter 
yesterday." 

"  Yesterday  !  Surely  thou  must  know  that  they 
are  now  at  home  ?  Yesterday,  very  early  in  the 
morning,  they  landed.'* 

"  My  father  at  home  !  " 

"  That  is  the  truth.  Where  wert  thou,  not  to 
know  this  ?  " 

u 1  came  to  town  yesterday  morning.  I  had  a 
great  trouble.  I  was  sick  and  kept  my  room." 

"  And  sick  thou  art  now,  I  can  see  that,"  said 
Madame  Van  Heemskirk  coming  forward — "  What 
is  the  matter  with  thee,  my  Joris  ?  " 

u  Cornelia  has  refused  me.  I  know  not  how  it 
is,  that  no  woman  will  love  me.  Am  I  so  very 
disagreeable  ?  " 

"  Thou  art  as  handsome  and  as  charming  as  can 
be  ;  and  it  is  not  Cornelia  that  has  said  *  no '  to 
thee,  it  is  her  father.  Now  he  will  be  sorry,  for 
thy  uncle  is  dead  and  thy  father  is  Earl  Hyde,  and 
thou  thyself  art  a  lord." 

"  I  care  not  for  such  things.  I  am  a  poor  lord, 
if  Cornelia  be  not  my  lady." 

"  I  wonder  they  sent  not  after  thee  !  " 

"  They  would  be  expecting  me  every  hour.     If 


196       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

there  had  been  a  letter  I  should  have  gone  directly 
back  with  it,  but  it  was  beyond  all  surmising,  that 
my  father  should  return.  Grandfather,  will  you 
see  Doctor  Moran  for  me  ?  You  can  speak  a 
word  that  will  prevail." 

"  I  will  not,  my  Joris.  If  thy  father  were  not 
here,  that  would  be  different.  He  is  the  right 
man  to  move  in  the  matter.  Ever  thou  art  in  too 
much  of  a  hurry.  Think  now  of  thy  life  as  a  book 
of  uncut  leaves,  and  do  not  turn  a  page  till  thou 
hast  read  it  to  the  very  last  word." 

"  /  will  see  Cornelia  for  thee,"  said  Madame 
Van  Heemskirk.  "  /  will  ask  the  girl  what  she 
means.  Very  often  she  passes  here,  sometimes 
she  comes  in.  I  will  say  to  her — why  did  thou 
throw  my  grandson's  love  away  like  an  old  shoe  ? 
Art  thou  not  ashamed  to  be  so  light  of  love,  for  I 
know  well  thou  said  to  my  Joris,  thou  loved  him. 
And  she  will  tell  me  the  truth.  Yes,  indeed,  if 
into  my  house  she  comes,  out  of  it  she  goes  not, 
until  I  have  the  why,  and  the  wherefore." 

"  Do  not  be  unkind  to  her,  grandmother — per 
haps  it  is  not  her  fault — if  she  had  only  said  a  few 
sorrowful  words Let  me  show  you  her  letter." 

u  No,"  said  Van  Heemskirk.  "  One  thing  at  a 
time,  Joris.  Now  it  is  the  time  to  go  and  welcome 
thy  father  and  thy  cousin — too  long  has  been  the 
delay  already." 

"  Then  good-bye  !  Grandmother,  you  will  speak 
for  me  ?  "  And  she  smiled  and  nodded,  and  stood 


Misdirected  Letters  197 

on  her  tiptoe  while  Joris  stooped  and  kissed  her — 
"  Fret  not  thyself  at  all.  I  will  see  Cornelia  and 
speak  for  thee."  And  then  he  kissed  her  again 
and  rode  away. 

Very  near  the  great  entrance  gates  of  Hyde 
Manor  he  met  his  father  and  mother  walking. 
Madame,  the  Right  Honourable  the  Countess  of 
Hyde,  was  pointing  out  the  many  improvements 
she  had  made  ;  and  the  Earl  looked  pleased  and 
happy.  George  threw  himself  off  his  horse  with  a 
loving  impetuosity,  and  his  mother  questioned  him 
about  his  manner  of  spending  the  previous  day. 
u  How  could  thou  help  knowing  thy  father  had 
landed  ?  "  she  asked.  "  Was  not  the  whole  city 
talking  of  the  circumstance  ?  " 

"  I  was  not  in  the  city,  mother.  I  went  to  the 
post  office  and  from  there  to  Madame  Jacobus. 
She  was  just  leaving  for  Charleston,  and  I  went 
with  her  to  the  boat." 

"  What  an  incredible  thing  !  Madame  Jacobus 
leaving  New  York  !  For  what  ?  For  why  ?  " 

"  She  has  gone  to  nurse  her  sister-in-law,  who  is 
dying.  That  is  of  all  things  the  most  likely — for 
she  has  a  great  heart." 

u  You  say  that — I  know  not." 

"  It  is  the  truth  itself.  Afterwards  I  had  my 
lunch  and  then  came  on  a  fever  and  a  distracting 
headache,  and  I  was  compelled  to  keep  my  room  ; 
and  so  heard  nothing  at  all  until  my  grandfather 
told  me  the  good  news  this  morning." 


198       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Madame  Kippon  was  on  the  dock  and  saw  thy 
father  and  cousin  land.  The  news  would  be  a  hot 
coal  in  her  mouth  till  she  told  it,  and  I  am  amazed 
she  did  not  call  at  thy  lodging.  Now  go  forward  ; 
when  thy  father  and  I  have  been  round  the  land, 
we  will  come  to  thee.  Thy  cousin  Annie  is 
here." 

"  That  confounds  me.  I  could  hardly  believe 
it  true." 

u  She  is  frail,  and  her  physicians  thought  the  sea 
voyage  might  give  her  the  vitality  she  needs.  It  was 
at  least  a  chance,  and  she  was  determined  to  take 
it.  Then  thy  father  put  all  his  own  desires  be 
hind  him,  and  came  with  her.  We  will  talk  more 
in  a  little  while.  I  see  thy  dress  is  untidy,  and  I 
dare  say  thou  art  hungry.  Go,  eat  and  dress,  by 
that  time  we  shall  be  home." 

But  though  his  mother  gave  him  a  final  charge 
u  to  make  haste,"  he  went  slowly.  The  thought  of 
Cornelia  had  returned  to  his  memory  with  a  sweet, 
strong  insistance  that  carried  all  before  it.  He 
wondered  what  she  was  doing — how  she  was  dressed 

— what  she  was  thinking — what  she  was  feeling 

He  wondered  if  she  was  suffering — if  she  thought 

he  was  suffering — if  she  was  sorry  for  him He 

made  himself  as  wretched  as  possible,  and  then  some 
voice  of  comfort  anteceding  all  reasoning,  told  him 
to  be  of  good  cheer  ;  for  if  Cornelia  had  ever  loved 
him,  she  must  love  him  still ;  and  if  she  had  only 
been  amusing  herself  with  his  devotion,  then  what 


Misdirected  Letters  199 

folly  to  break  his  heart  for  a  girl  who  had  no  heart 
worth  talking  about. 

Poor  Cornelia !  She  was  at  that  moment  the 
most  unhappy  woman  in  New  York.  She  had  ex 
cused  the  "  ten  words  "  he  might  have  written  yes 
terday.  She  had  found  in  the  unexpected  return 
of  his  father  and  cousin  reason  sufficient  for  his 
neglect ;  but  it  was  now  past  ten  o'clock  of  another 
day,  and  there  was  yet  no  word  from  him.  Per 
haps  then  he  was  coming.  She  sat  at  her  tambour 
frame  listening  till  all  her  senses  and  emotions 
seemed  to  have  fled  to  her  ear.  And  the  ear  has 
memory,  it  watches  for  an  accustomed  sound,  it 
will  not  suffer  us  to  forget  the  voice,  the  step  of 
those  we  love.  Many  footsteps  passed,  but  none 
stopped  at  the  gate  ;  none  came  up  the  garden  path, 
and  no  one  lifted  the  knocker.  The  house  itself 
was  painfully  still ;  there  was  no  sound  but  the  faint 
noise  made  by  Mrs.  Moran  as  she  put  down  her 
bobbin  or  her  scissors.  The  tension  became  dis 
tressing.  She  longed  for  her  father — for  a  caller — 
for  any  one  to  break  this  unbearable  pause  in  life. 

Yet  she  could  not  give  up  hope.  A  score  of  ex 
cuses  came  into  her  mind  ;  she  was  sure  he  would 
come  in  the  afternoon.  He  must  come.  She  read 
and  reread  his  letter.  She  dressed  herself  with 
delightful  care  and  sat  down  to  watch  for  him. 
He  came  not.  He  sent  no  word,  no  token,  and  as 
hour  after  hour  slipped  away,  she  was  compelled  to 
drop  her  needle. 


2oo       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Mother,"  she  said,  "  I  am  not  well.  I  must 
go  upstairs."  She  had  been  holding  despair  at  bay 
so  many  hours  she  could  bear  it  no  longer.  For 
she  was  so  young,  and  this  was  the  first  time  she 
had  been  yoke-fellow  with  sorrow.  She  was 
amazed  at  her  own  suffering.  It  seemed  so  im 
possible.  It  had  come  upon  her  so  swiftly,  so  sud 
denly,  and  as  yet  she  was  not  able  to  seek  any  com 
fort  or  sympathy  from. God  or  man.  For  to  do  so, 
was  to  admit  the  impossibility  of  things  yet  turning 
out  right ;  and  this  conclusion  she  would  not  ad 
mit  ;  she  was  angry  at  a  word  or  a  look  that  sug 
gested  such  a  termination. 

The  next  morning  she  called  Balthazar  to  her 
and  closely  questioned  him.  It  had  struck  her  in 
the  night,  that  the  slave  might  have  lost  the  letter, 
and  be  afraid  to  confess  the  accident.  But  Bal 
thazar's  manner  and  frank  speech  was  beyond  sus 
picion.  He  told  her  exactly  what  clothing  Lieu 
tenant  Hyde  was  wearing,  how  he  looked,  what 
words  he  said,  and  then  with  a  little  hesitation  took 
a  silver  crown  piece  from  his  pocket  and  added  "  he 
gave  it  to  me.  When  he  took  the  letter  in  his 
hand  he  looked  down  at  it  and  laughed  like  he  was 
very  happy  ;  and  he  gave  me  the  money  for  bring 
ing  it  to  him  ;  that  is  the  truth,  sure,  Miss  Cor 
nelia/' 

She  could  not  doubt  it.  There  was  then  noth 
ing  to  be  done  but  wait  in  patience  for  the  explana 
tion  she  was  certain  would  yet  come.  But  oh 


Misdirected  Letters  201 

with  what  leaden  motion  the  hours  went  by  !  For 
a  few  days  she  made  a  pretence  of  her  usual  em 
ployments,  but  at  the  end  of  a  week  her  embroidery 
frame  stood  uncovered,  her  books  were  unopened, 
her  music  silent,  and  she  declared  herself  unable  to 
take  her  customary  walk.  Her  mother  watched 
her  with  unspeakable  sympathy,  but  Cornelia's 
grief  was  dumb;  it  made  no  audible  moan,  and 
preserved  an  attitude  which  repelled  all  discussion. 
As  yet  she  would  not  acknowledge  a  doubt  of  her 
lover's  faith  ;  his  conduct  was  certainly  a  mystery, 
but  she  told  her  heart  with  a  passionate  iteration 
that  it  would  positively  be  cleared  up. 

Now  and  then  the  Doctor,  or  a  visitor,  made  a 
remark  which  might  have  broken  this  implicit  trust, 
and  probably  did  facilitate  that  end  ;  for  it  was 
evident  from  them,  that  Hyde  was  in  health,  and 
that  he  was  taking  his  share  in  the  usual  routine  of 
daily  life  : — thus,  one  day  Mrs.  Wiley  while  mak 
ing  a  call  said  — 

"  I  met  the  new  Countess  and  the  Lady  Annie 
Hyde,  and  I  can  tell  you  the  new  Countess  is 
very  much  of  a  Countess.  As  for  the  Lady  Annie," 
she  added,  "  she  was  wrapped  to  her  nose  in  furs, 
and  you  could  see  nothing  of  her  but  two  large 
black  eyes,  that  even  at  a  distance  made  you  feel 
sad  and  uncomfortable.  However  Lord  George 
Hyde  appeared  to  be  very  much  her  servant." 

"There  has  been  talk  of  a  marriage  between 
them,  "  answered  Mrs.  Moran,  for  she  was  anx- 


2O2       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

ious  to  put  her  daughter  out  of  all  question.  u  I 
should  think  it  would  be  a  very  proper  marriage." 

u  Oh,  indeed,  '  proper  marriages  '  seldom  come 
off.  Love  marriages  are  the  fashion  at  present.'* 

"  Are  they  not  the  most  proper  of  all  ?  " 

u  On  the  contrary,  is  there  anything  more  in 
discreet  ?  Of  a  thousand  couples  who  marry  for 
love,  hardly  one  will  convince  us  that  the  thing 
can  be  done,  and  not  repented  of  afterwards." 

"I  think  you  are  mistaken,"  said  Mrs.  Moran 
coldly.  "  Love  should  always  seek  its  match,  and 
that  is  love — or  nothing." 

u  Oh  indeed !  It  is  you  are  mistaken,"  con 
tinued  Mrs.  Wiley.  "  As  the  times  go,  Cupid  has 
grown  to  cupidity,  and  seeks  his  match  in  money 
or  station,  or  such  things." 

"  Money,  or  station,  or  such  things  find  their 
match  in  money,  or  station,  or  such  things. — They 
are  not  love." 

u  Well  then  the  three  may  go  together  in  this 
case.  But  the  girl  has  an  uncanny,  unworldlike 
face.  Captain  Wiley  says  he  has  seen  mermaids 
with  the  same  long  look  in  their  eyes.  Do  you 
know  that  Rem  Van  Ariens  has  gone  to  Boston  ?  " 

"  We  have  heard  so ;  " — and  then  the  Doctor 
entered,  and  after  the  usual  formalities  said,  "  I  have 
just  met  Earl  Hyde  and  his  Countess  parading 
themselves  in  the  fine  carriage  he  brought  with 
him.  'Tis  a  thousand  pities  the  President  did  not 
wait  in  New  York  to  see  the  sight." 


Misdirected  Letters  203 

u  Was  Lady  Annie  with  them  ? "  asked  Mrs. 
Wiley,  "  we  were  just  talking  about  her." 

"  Yes,  but  one  forgets  that  she  is  there — or  any 
where.  She  seems  as  if  she  were  an  accident." 

u  And  the  young  lord  ?  " 

"  The  young  lord  affects  the  democratic." 

Such  conversations  were  not  uncommon,  and 
Mrs.  Moran  could  not  with  any  prudence  put  a 
sudden  stop  to  them.  They  kept  Cornelia  full  of 
wondering  irritation,  and  gradually  drove  the  doubt 
into  her  soul — the  doubt  of  her  lover's  sincerity 
which  was  the  one  thing  she  could  not  fight  against. 
It  loosened  all  the  props  of  life ;  she  ceased  to  strug 
gle  and  to  hope.  The  world  went  on,  but  Corne 
lia's  heart  stood  still ;  and  at  the  end  of  the  third 
week  things  came  to  this — her  father  looked  at  her 
keenly  one  morning  and  sent  her  instantly  to  bed. 
At  the  last  the  breakdown  had  come  in  a  night, 
but  it  had  found  all  ready  for  it. 

"  She  has  typhoid,  or  I  am  much  mistaken," 
he  said  to  the  anxious  mother.  "  Why  have  you 
said  nothing  to  me  ?  How  has  it  come  about  ?  I 
have  heard  no  complaining.  To  have  let  things 
go  thus  far  without  help  is  dreadful — it  is  almost 
murder." 

"  John  !  John  !  What  could  I  do  ?  She  could 
not  bear  me  to  ask  after  her  health.  She  said  al 
ways  that  she  was  not  sick.  She  would  not  hear 
of  my  speaking  to  you.  I  thought  it  was  only 
sorrow  and  heart-ache." 


204       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Only  sorrow  and  heart-ache.  Is  not  that 
enough  to  call  typhoid  or  any  other  death  ?  What 
is  the  trouble  ?  Oh  I  need  not  ask,  I  know  it  is 
that  young  Hyde.  I  feel  it.  I  saw  this  trouble 
coming ;  now  let  me  know  the  whole  truth." 

He  listened  to  it  with  angry  amazement.  He 
said  he  ought  to  have  been  told  at  the  time — he 
threw  aside  all  excuses — for  being  a  man  how 
could  he  understand  why  women  put  off,  and  hope, 
and  suffer  ?  He  was  sure  the  rascal  ought  to  have 
been  brought  to  explanation  the  very  first  day  : — 
and  then  he  broke  down  and  wept  his  wife's  tears, 
and  echoed  all  her  piteous  moan  for  her  daughter's 
wronged  love  and  breaking  heart. 

"  What  is  left  us  now,  is  to  try  and  save  her 
dear  life,"  said  the  miserable  father.  u  Suffering 
we  cannot  spare  her.  She  must  pass  alone  through 
the  Valley  of  the  Shadow ;  but  it  may  be  she  will 
lose  this  sorrow  in  its  dreadful  paths.  I  have 
known  this  to  happen  often ;  for  there  the  soul  has 
to  strip  itself  of  all  encumbrances,  and  fight  for 
life,  and  life  only." 

This  was  the  battle  waged  in  Doctor  Moran's 
house  for  many  awful  weeks.  The  girl  lay  at 
Death's  door,  and  her  father  and  mother  watched 
every  breath  she  drew.  One  day,  while  she  was 
in  extremity,  the  Doctor  went  himself  to  the 
apothecary's  for  medicine.  This  medicine  was  his 
last  hope  and  he  desired  to  prepare  it  himself.  As 
he  came  out  of  the  store  with  it  in  his  hand,  Hyde 


Misdirected  Letters  205" 

looked  at  him  with  a  steady  imploration.      He  had 
evidently  been  waiting  his  exit. 

"  Sir !  "  he  said,  "  I  have  heard  a  report  that  I 
cannot,  I  dare  not  believe." 

"  Believe  the  worst — and  stand  aside,  sir.  I 
have  neither  patience  nor  words  for  you." 

"  I  beseech  you,  sir " 

u  Touch  me  not !  Out  of  my  sight !  Broad 
way  is  not  wide  enough  for  us  two,  unless  you 
take  the  other  side." 

u  Your  daughter  ?     Oh  sir,  have  some  pity  !  " 

"  My  daughter  is  dying." 

"  Then  sir,  let  me  tell  you,  that  your  behaviour 
has  been  so  brutal  to  her,  and  to  me,  that  the  Al 
mighty  shows  both  kindness  and  intelligence  in  tak 
ing  her  away  :  " — and  with  these  words  uttered  in 
a  blazing  passion  of  indignation  and  pity,  the 
young  lord  crossed  to  the  other  side  of  the  street, 
leaving  the  Doctor  confounded  by  his  words  and 
manner. 

"  There  is  something  strange  here,"  he  said  to 
himself;  "the  fellow  may  be  as  bad  as  bad  can 
be,  but  he  neither  looked  nor  spoke  as  if  he  had 
wronged  Cornelia.  If  she  lives  I  must  get  to  the 
bottom  of  this  affair.  I  should  not  wonder  if  it  is 
the  work  of  Dick  Hyde — earl  or  general — as  de 
testable  a  man  as  ever  crossed  my  path." 

With  this  admission  and  wonder,  the  thought  of 
Hyde  passed  from  his  mind ;  for  at  that  hour  the 
issue  he  had  to  consider  was  one  of  life  or  death. 


206       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

And  although  it  was  beyond  all  hope  or  expecta 
tion,  Cornelia  came  back  to  life ;  came  back  very 
slowly,  but  yet  with  a  solemn  calm  and  a  certain 
air  of  conscious  dignity,  as  of  one  victorious  over 
death  and  the  grave.  But  she  was  perilously  deli 
cate,  and  the  Doctor  began  to  consider  the  dangers 
of  her  convalescence. 

u  Ava,"  he  said  one  evening  when  Cornelia  had 
been  downstairs  awhile — "it  will  not  do  for  the 
child  to  run  the  risk  of  meeting  that  man.  I  see 
him  on  the  street  frequently.  The  apothecary 
says  he  comes  to  his  store  to  ask  after  her  recovery 
nearly  every  day.  He  has  not  given  her  up,  I  am 
sure  of  that.  He  spoke  to  me  once  about  her,  and 
was  outrageously  impudent.  There  is  something 
strange  in  the  affair,  but  how  can  I  move  in  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  impossible.  Can  you  quarrel  with  a  man 
because  he  has  deceived  Cornelia  ?  How  cruel 
that  would  be  to  the  child  !  You  must  bear  and  I 
must  bear.  Anything  must  be  borne,  rather  than 
set  the  town  wondering  and  talking. " 

"  It  is  a  terrible  position.  I  see  not  how  I  can 
endure  it." 

"  Put  Cornelia  before  everything." 

"  The  best  plan  is  to  remove  Cornelia  out  of 
danger.  Why  not  take  her  to  visit  your  brother 
Joseph  ?  He  has  long  desired  you  to  do  so." 

"  Go  to  Philadelphia  now  I  Joseph  tells  me 
Congress  is  in  session,  and  the  city  gone  mad  over 
its  new  dignity.  Nothing  but  balls  and  dinners  are 


Misdirected  Letters  207 

thought  of ;  even  the  Quakers  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
finest  modes  and  materials  at  entertainments ;  and 
Cornelia  will  hardly  escape  the  fever  of  fashion  and 
social  gaiety.  She  has  many  acquaintances  there." 

"  I  do  not  wish  her  to  escape  it.  A  change  of 
human  beings  is  as  necessary  as  a  change  of  air,  or 
diet.  She  has  had  too  much  of  George  Hyde,  and 
Madame  Jacobus,  and  Rem  Van  Ariens." 

44  I  hear  that  Rem  is  greatly  taken  with  Boston, 
and  thinks  of  opening  an  office  there." 

41  Very  prudent  of  Rem.  What  chance  has  he 
in  New  York  with  Hamilton  and  Burr,  to  carry  off 
all  the  big  prey  ?  Make  your  arrangements  as  soon 
as  possible  to  leave  New  York." 

44  You  are  sure  that  you  are  right  in  choosing 
Philadelphia  ?  " 

44  Yes — while  Hyde  is  in  New  York.  Write  to 
your  brother  to-day ;  and  as  soon  as  Cornelia  is  a 
little  stronger,  I  will  go  with  you  to  Philadelphia." 

44  And  stay  with  us  ?  " 

44  That  is  not  to  be  expected.  I  have  too  much 
to  do  here." 


CHAPTER  X 

LIFE    TIED    IN    A    KNOT 

ONE  morning  soon  after  the  New  Year,  Hyde 
was  returning  to  the  Manor  House  from  New 
York.  It  was  a  day  to  oppress  thought,  and 
tighten  the  heart,  and  kill  all  hope  and  energy. 
There  was  a  monotonous  rain  and  a  sky  like  that 
of  a  past  age — solemn  and  leaden — and  the  mud  of 
the  roads  was  unspeakable.  He  was  compelled  to 
ride  slowly  and  to  feel  in  its  full  force,  as  it  were, 
the  hostility  of  Nature.  As  he  reached  his  home 
the  rain  ceased,  and  a  thick  mist,  with  noiseless 
entrance,  pervaded  all  the  environment;  but  no 
life,  or  sound  of  life,  broke  the  melancholy  sense 
of  his  utter  desolation. 

He  took  the  road  by  the  lake  because  it  was  the 
nearest  road  to  the  stables,  where  he  wished  to 
alight ;  but  the  sight  of  the  livid  water,  and  of  the 
herons  standing  motionless  under  the  huge  cedars 
by  its  frozen  edges,  brought  to  speech  and  expres 
sion  that  stifled  grief,  which  Nature  this  morning 
had  intensified,  not  relieved. 

"  Those  unearthly  birds  !  "  he  said   petulantly, 

"  they  look  as   if  they   had  escaped  the  deluge  by 

some  mistake.      Oh  if  I  could  forget  !     If  I  could 

only    forget  !     And  now  she   has  gone !     She  has 

208 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  209 

gone  !  I  shall  never  see  her  again  !  "  Grief  feels 
it  a  kind  of  luxury  to  repeat  some  supreme  cry  of 
misery,  and  this  lamentation  for  his  lost  love  had 
this  poignant  satisfaction.  He  felt  New  York  to  be 
empty  and  void  and  dreary,  and  the  Manor  House 
with  its  physical  cheer  and  comfort,  and  its  store 
of  affection,  could  not  lift  the  stone  from  his  heart. 

In  spite  of  the  chilling  mist  the  Earl  had  gone  to 
see  a  neighbour  about  some  land  and  local  affairs, 
and  his  mother — oblivious  of  the  coronet  of  a  count 
ess — was  helping  her  housekeeper  to  make  out  the 
list  of  all  household  property  at  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1792.  She  seemed  a  little  annoyed  at  his 
intrusion,  and  recommended  to  him  a  change  of 
apparel.  Then  he  smiled  at  his  forlorn,  draggled 
condition,  and  went  to  his  room. 

Now  it  is  a  fact  that  in  extreme  dejection  some 
thing  good  to  eat,  and  something  nice  to  wear, 
will  often  restore  the  inner  man  to  his  normal 
complacency  ;  and  when  Hyde's  valet  had  seen  to 
his  master's  refreshment  in  every  possible  way, 
Hyde  was  at  least  reconciled  to  the  idea  of  living  a 
little  longer.  The  mud-stained  garments  had  dis 
appeared,  and  as  he  walked  up  and  down  the  luxu 
rious  room,  brightened  by  the  blazing  oak  logs,  he 
caught  reflections  of  his  handsome  person  in  the 
mirror,  and  he  began  to  be  comforted.  For  it  is 
not  in  normal  youth  to  disdain  the  smaller  joys  of 
life  ;  and  Hyde  was  thinking  as  his  servant  dressed 
him  in  satin  and  velvet,  that  at  least  there  was 


2io       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Annie.  Annie  was  always  glad  to  see  him,  and  he 
had  a  great  respect  for  Annie's  opinions.  Indeed 
during  the  past  few  weeks  they  had  been  brought 
into  daily  companionship,  they  had  become  very  good 
friends.  So  then  the  absence  of  the  Earl  and  the 
preoccupation  of  his  mother  was  not  beyond  comfort, 
if  Annie  was  able  to  receive  him.  In  spite  of  his 
grief  for  Cornelia's  removal  from  New  York,  he  was 
not  insensible  to  the  pleasure  of  Annie's  approval. 
He  liked  to  show  himself  to  her  when  he  knew  he 
could  appear  to  advantage ;  and  there  was  nothing 
more  in  this  desire,  than  that  healthy  wish  for  ap 
probation  that  is  natural  to  self-respecting  youth. 

He  heard  her  singing  as  he  approached  the  draw 
ing-room,  and  he  opened  the  door  noiselessly  and 
went  in.  If  she  was  conscious  of  his  entrance  she 
made  no  sign  of  it,  and  Hyde  did  not  seem  to  ex 
pect  it.  He  glanced  at  her  as  he  might  have 
glanced  at  a  priest  by  the  altar,  and  went  softly  to 
the  fireside  and  sat  down.  At  this  moment  she  had 
a  solemn,  saintly  beauty ;  her  small  pale  face  was 
luminous  with  spiritual  joy,  her  eyes  glowing  with 
rapture,  and  her  hands  moving  among  the  ivory 
keys  of  the  piano  made  enchanting  melody  to  her 
inspired  longing  : 

Jerusalem  the  golden, 

With  milk  and  honey  blest, 
Beneath  thy  contemplation 

Sink  heart  and  voice  oppressed. 
O  one,  O  only  mansion, 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  211 

O  paradise  of  joy  ! 
Where  tears  are  ever  banished 

And  smiles  have  no  alloy. 
O  sweet  and  blessed  country ! 

Shall  I  ever  see  thy  face  ? 
O  sweet  and  blessed  country  ! 

Shall  I  ever  win  thy  grace  ? 


and  as  these  eager  impassioned  words  rose  heaven 
ward,  it  seemed  to  Hyde  that  her  innocent,  longing 
soul  was  half-way  out  of  her  frail  little  body.  He 
did  not  in  any  way  disturb  her.  She  ceased  when 
the  hymn  was  finished  and  sat  still  a  few  moments, 
realizing,  as  far  as  she  could,  the  glory  which  doth 
not  yet  appear.  As  her  eyes  dropped,  the  light 
faded  from  her  face ;  she  smiled  at  Hyde,  a  smile 
that  seemed  to  light  all  the  space  between  them. 
Then  he  stood  up  and  she  came  towards  him.  No 
wonder  that  strangers  spoke  of  her  as  a  child  ;  she 
had  the  size  and  face  and  figure  of  a  child,  and  her 
look  of  extreme  youth  was  much  accentuated  by 
the  simple  black  gown  she  wore,  and  by  her  carriage, 
for  she  leaned  slightly  forward  as  she  walked,  her 
feet  appearing  to  take  no  hold  upon  the  floor ;  a 
movement  springing  interiorly  from  the  soul  eager 
ness  which  dominated  her.  Hyde  placed  her  in  a 
chair  before  the  fire,  and  then  drew  his  own  chair 
to  her  side. 

"  Cousin,"  she  said,  "  I  am  most  glad  to  see 
you.  Everybody  has  some  work  to  do  to-day.'* 

"  And  you,  Annie  ?  " 


212       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  In  this  world  I  have  no  work  to  do,"  she  an 
swered.  "  My  soul  is  here  for  a  purchase  ;  when 
I  have  made  it  I  shall  go  home  again."  And 
Hyde  looked  at  her  with  such  curious  interest  that 
she  added — "  I  am  buying  Patience." 

u  O  indeed,  that  is  a  commodity  not  in  the 
market." 

"  I  assure  you  it  is.  I  buy  it  daily.  Once  I 
used  to  wonder  what  for  I  had  come  to  earth.  I 
had  no  strength,  no  beauty,  nothing  at  all  to  buy 
Earth's  good  things  with.  Three  years  ago  I 
found  out  that  I  had  come  to  buy  for  my  soul,  the 
grace  of  Patience.  Do  you  remember  what  an  im 
perious,  restless,  hard-to-please,  hard-to-serve  girl  I 
was  ?  Now  it  is  different.  If  people  do  not  come 
on  the  instant  I  call  them,  I  rock  my  soul  to  rest, 
and  say  to  it  '  anon,  anon,  be  quiet,  soul.'  If  I 
suffer  much  pain — and  that  is  very  often — I  say 
Soul,  it  is  His  Will,  you  must  not  cry  out  against 
it.  If  I  do  not  get  my  own  way,  I  say,  Soul,  His 
Way  is  best ;  and  thus,  day  by  day,  I  am  buying 
Patience." 

"  But  it  is  not  possible  this  can  content  you. 
You  must  have  some  other  hope  and  desire, 
Annie  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  once  had — and  to-day  is  a  good 
time  to  speak  of  it  to  you,  because  now  it  troubles 
me  no  longer.  You  know  what  my  father  desired, 
and  what  your  father  promised,  for  us  both  ?  " 

"  Yes.     Did  you  desire  it,  Annie  ?  " 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  213 

"  I  do  not  desire  it  now.  You  were  ever  against 
it  ? " 

"Oh  Annie! " 

"  It  makes  no  matter,  George.  I  shall  never 
marry  you." 

"  Do  you  dislike  me  so  much  ?  " 

u  I  am  very  fond  of  you.  You  are  of  my  race 
and  my  kindred,  and  I  love  every  soul  of  the 
Hydes  that  has  ever  tarried  on  this  earth." 

"Well  then?" 

"  I  shall  marry  no  one.  I  will  show  you  the 
better  way.  Few  can  walk  in  it,  but  Doctor 
Roslyn  says,  he  thinks  it  may  be  my  part — my 
happy  part — to  do  so :  "  and  as  she  spoke  she  took 
from  the  little  pocket  at  her  side  a  small  copy  of 
the  gospels,  and  it  opened  of  its  own  account  at 
the  twentieth  chapter  of  St.  Luke.  "  See  !  "  she 
said,  "  and  read  it  for  yourself,  George " 

"  The  children  of  this  world  marry  and  are 
given  in  marriage.  But  they  which  shall  be  ac 
counted  worthy  to  obtain  that  world,  and  the  resur 
rection  from  the  dead,  neither  marry,  nor  are  given 
in  marriage. 

"  Neither  can  they  die  any  more  ;  for  they  are 
equal  unto  the  angels,  and  are  the  children  of  God, 
being  the  children  of  the  resurrection."  l 

"  To  die  no  more  !  To  be  like  unto  the  angels  ! 
To  be  the  children  of  God  !  This  is  the  end 

1  St.  Luke,  chap.  xx.  34-36. 


214       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

and  aim  of  my  desires,  to  be  among  '  the  children 
of  God  ! '  " 

u  Dear  Annie,  I  cannot  understand  this." 
"  Not  yet.  It  is  not  your  time.  My  soul,  I 
think,  is  ages  older  than  yours.  It  takes  ages  of 
schooling  to  get  into  that  class  that  may  leave  Earth 
forever,  and  be  as  the  angels.  Even  now  I  know, 
I  am  sure  that  you  are  fretting  and  miserable  for 
the  love  of  some  woman.  For  whose  love,  George  ? 
Tell  me/' 

Then  Hyde  plunged  with  headlong  precipitancy 
into  the  story  of  his  love  for  Cornelia,  and  of  the 
inexplicably  cruel  way  in  which  it  had  been  brought 
to  a  close.  "  And  yesterday,"  he  continued  with 
a  sob  in  his  voice — "yesterday  I  heard  that  her 
father  had  taken  her  to  Philadelphia.  I  shall  see  her 
no  more.  He  will  marry  her  to  Rem  Van  Anens, 
or  to  one  of  her  Quaker  cousins,  and  the  taste  is 
taken  out  of  my  life,  and  I  am  only  a  walking 
misery." 

"  I  do  not  believe  it  is  Cornelia's  fault." 
"  Here  is  her  letter.  Read  it."  Then  Annie 
took  the  letter  and  after  reading  it  said,  "  If  she  be 
all  you  say,  I  will  vow  she  wrote  this  in  her  sleep. 
I  should  like  to  see  her.  Why  do  you  think 
wrong  of  her  ?  What  is  love  without  faith  in  the 
one  you  love  ?  Do  you  know  first  and  finally 
what  true  love  is  ?  It  is  thinking  kindly  and  nobly. 
For  if  we  give  all  we  have,  and  do  all  we  can  do, 
and  yet  think  unkindly,  it  profits  us  nothing. 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  215 

Doctor  Roslyn  told  me  so.     You  remember  him  ?  " 

"  Your  teacher  ?  " 

u  My  teacher,  my  friend,  my  father  after  the 
spirit.  He  told  me  that  our  thoughts  moulded  our 
fate,  because  thought  and  life  are  one.  So  then,  if 
you  really  love  Cornelia,  you  must  think  good  of 
her,  and  then  good  will  come/' 

"  If  thought  and  life  are  one,  Annie,  if  doing 
good,  and  giving  good,  are  nothing  to  thinking 
good,  and  we  are  to  be  judged  by  our  quality  of 
thinking,  there  will  be  a  greater  score  against  all  of 
us,  than  we  can  imagine.  I,  for  one,  should  not 
like  to  be  brought  face  to  face  with  what  I  think, 
and  have  thought  about  people ;  it  would  be  an  ac 
counting  beyond  my  power  to  settle." 

"  There  is  no  accounting.  If  all  the  priests  in 
Christendom  tell  you  so,  believe  them  not.  Do 
you  think  God  keeps  a  score  against  you  ?  Do 
you  think  the  future  is  some  torture  chamber,  or 
condemned  cell  ?  Oh,  how  you  wrong  God  !  " 

"  But  we  are  taught,  Annie,  that  the  future  must 
correct  the  past.'* 

"True,  but  the  future,  like  the  present,  is  a 
school — only  a  school.  And  the  Great  Master  is 
so  compassionate,  so  ready  to  help,  so  ready  to  en 
lighten,  so  sure  to  make  out  of  our  foolishness 
some  wise  thing.  If  we  learn  the  lesson  we  came 
here  to  learn,  He  will  say  to  us  '  Well  done  ' — and 
then  we  shall  go  higher." 

u  If  we  do  not  learn  it  ?  " 


216       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

"  Ah  then,  we  are  turned  back  to  try  it  over 
again  !  I  should  not  like  to  be  turned  back — 
would  you  ?  " 

"  But  He  will  punish  us  for  failure." 

"  Our  earthly  fathers  are  often  impatient  with 
us ;  His  compassions  fail  not.  Oh  this  good 
God  ! "  she  cried  in  an  ecstasy — "  Oh  that  I 
knew  where  I  might  find  Him  !  Oh  that  I  could 
come  into  His  presence  !  "  and  her  eyes  dilated, 
and  were  full  of  an  incomparable  joy,  as  if  they 
were  gazing  upon  some  glorious  vision,  and  glad 
with  the  gladness  of  the  angels. 

Hyde  looked  at  her  with  an  intense  interest. 
He  wondered  if  this  angelic  little  creature  had  ever 
known  the  frailties  and  temptations  of  mortal  life, 
and  she  answered  his  thought  as  if  he  had  spoken 
it  aloud. 

"Yes,  cousin,  I  have  known  all  temptations,  and 
come  through  all  tribulations.  My  soul  has 
wandered  and  lost  its  way,  and  been  brought  back 
many  and  many  a  time,  and  bought  every  grace 
with  much  suffering.  But  God  is  always  present 
to  help,  while  quest  followed  quest,  and  lesson  fol 
lowed  lesson,  and  goal  succeeded  goal ;  ever  leaving 
some  evil  behind,  and  carrying  forward  some  of 
those  gains  which  are  eternal/' 

"  If  Adam  had  not  fallen !  "  sighed  George, 
"  things  might  have  been  so  different." 

u  But  the  angels  fell  before  Adam,"  she  an 
swered.  "I  wonder  if  Adam  knew  about  the 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  217 

fallen  angels  ?  Did  he  know  about  death  before  he 
saw  Abel  dead  ?  He  was  all  day  in  the  garden  of 
Eden  after  eating  of  the  fruit  of  sin  and  death,  and 
yet  he  did  not  put  out  his  hand  to  take  of  the  Tree 
of  Life.  Did  he  know  that  he  was  already  im 
mortal  ?  Was  he — and  are  we — fallen  angels, 
working  our  way  back  to  our  first  estate  through 
many  trials  and  much  suffering  ?  Doctor  Roslyn 
talked  to  me  of  these  things  till  I  thought  I  felt 
wings  stirring  within  me.  Wings !  Wings ! 
Wings  to  fly  away  and  be  at  rest.  Wings  !  they 
have  been  the  dream  of  every  race  and  every  age. 
Are  they  a  memory  of  our  past  greatness,  for  they 
haunt  us,  and  draw  us  on  and  on,  and  higher  and 
higher  ? — but  why  do  you  look  so  troubled  and  re 
luctant  ?  " 

Before  Hyde  could  answer,  the  Earl  came  into 
the  room  and  the  young  man  was  glad  to  see  his 
father.  A  conversation  so  unusual,  so  suggestive 
and  cleaving  made  him  unhappy.  It  took  him  up 
the  high  places  that  indeed  gave  him  a  startling 
outlook  of  life,  but  he  was  not  comfortable  at  such 
altitude.  He  rose  with  something  of  this  strange 
air  about  him,  and  the  Earl  understood  what  the 
trend  of  the  conversation  had  been.  For  Annie 
had  talked  much  to  him  on  such  subjects,  and  he 
had  been  sensibly  moved  and  impressed  by  the 
wisdom  which  the  little  maid  had  learned  from  her 
venerable  teacher.  He  lifted  her  head  in  passing, 
and  kissed  her  brow  with  that  reverent  affection  we 


2i8       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

feel  for  those  who  bring  out  what  is  noblest  and 
best  in  our  character,  and  who  lead  us  higher  than 
our  daily  walk. 

"  My  dear  George,"  he  said,  "  I  am  delighted  to 
see  you.  I  was  afraid  you  would  stay  in  the  city 
this  dreadful  weather.  Is  there  any  news  ?  " 

"  A  great  deal,  sir.  I  have  brought  you  English 
and  French  papers." 

"  I  will  read  them  at  my  leisure.  Give  me  the 
English  news  first.  What  is  it  in  substance  ?  " 

"  The  conquest  of  Mysore  and  Madras. 
Seringapatam  has  fallen ;  and  Tippoo  has  ceded  to 
England  one  half  his  dominions  and  three  millions 
of  pounds.  The  French  have  not  now  a  foothold 
left  in  India,  and  '  Citizen  Tippoo '  can  no  longer 
help  the  agents  of  the  French  Republic.  Faith,  sir  ! 
Cornwallis  has  given  England  in  the  east,  a  com 
pensation  for  what  she  lost  in  the  west." 

"  To  make  nations  of  free  men,  is  the  destiny 
of  our  race,"  replied  the  Earl. 

"  Perhaps  so ;  for  it  seems  the  new  colony 
planted  at  Sydney  Cove,  Australia,  is  doing 
wonderfully ;  and  that  would  mean  an  English 
empire  in  the  south." 

"Yet,  I  have  just  read  a  proclamation  of  the 
French  Assembly,  calling  on  the  people  of  France 
4  to  annihilate  at  once,  the  white,  clay-footed  colossus 
of  English  power  and  diplomacy.'  Anything 
else  ? " 

"  Mr.  Fox    and    Mr.   Burke   are  quarrelling   as 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  219 

usual,  and  Mr.  Pitt  is  making  the  excesses  of 
France  the  excuse  for  keeping  back  reform  in 
England.  It  is  the  old  story.  I  did  not  care  to 
read  it.  The  French  papers  tell  their  side  of  it. 
They  call  Burke  a  madman,  and  Pitt  a  monster, 
and  the  Moniteur  accuses  them  of  having  misrepre 
sented  the  great  French  nation,  and  says,  '  they  will 
soon  be  laid  prostrate  before  the  statue  of  Liberty, 
from  which  they  shall  only  rise  to  mount  the  scaf 
fold,  etc.,  etc.'  " 

u  What  bombastic  nonsense  !  " 

"  Minister  Morris  is  in  the  midst  of  horrors  un 
mentionable.  The  other  foreign  ministers  have 
left  France,  and  the  French  government  is  deserted 
by  all  the  world ;  yet  Mr.  Morris  remains  at  his 
post,  though  he  was  lately  arrested  in  the  street, 
and  his  house  searched  by  armed  men." 

u  But  this  is  an  insult  to  the  American  nation  ! 
Why  does  he  endure  it  ?  He  ought  to  return 
home." 

"  Because  he  will  not  abandon  his  duty  in  the 
hour  of  peril  and  difficulty.  Neither  has  the  Pres 
ident  given  him  permission  to  do  so.  How  could 
he  desert  American  citizens  unlawfully  imprisoned, 
American  vessels  unlawfully  seized  by  French  pri 
vateers,  and  American  captains  detained  in  French 
ports  on  all  kinds  of  pretences.  I  think  Minister 
Morris  is  precisely  where  he  should  be,  saving  the 
lives  of  American  citizens ;  many  of  whom  are 
trembling  to-day  in  the  shadow  of  the  guillotine." 


220       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  Jefferson  is  now  con 
vinced  of  the  execrable  nature  of  these  brutal  rev 
olutionists." 

"  I  can  assure  you,  sir,  he  is  not.  He  still  ex 
cuses  all  their  abominations  and  says  Minister 
Morris  is  a  high-flying  monarchy  man,  and  not  to 
be  taken  without  great  allowance.  I  hear  that 
Madame  Kippon's  daughter,  whom  Mr.  Morris 
rescued  at  the  last  hour,  has  arrived  in  New  York ; 
and  yesterday  I  met  Mr.  Van  Ariens,  who  is  ex 
ceedingly  anxious  concerning  his  daughter,  the 
Marquise  de  Tounnerre." 

"  Is  she  in  danger  ?  I  thought  her  husband  was 
a  leader  in  the  new  National  Assembly." 

"  He  is  among  the  Girondists.  They  are  giving 
themselves  airs  and  making  fine  speeches  at  present 
_but " 

"  But  what  ?  " 

"  Their  day  will  be  short." 

"What  of  the  king?" 

u  The  royal  family  are  all  prisoners  in  the  Temple 
Tower.  I  do  not  dare  to  read  the  particulars ;  but 
not  a  single  protest  against  their  barbarity  is  made. 
Frenchmen  who  silently  saw  the  Abbaye,  the 
Force,  and  the  Carmes  turned  into  human  shambles 
three  months  ago,  now  hold  their  peace  while  mur 
ders  no  less  horrible  are  being  slowly  done  in  the 
Temple." 

"  They  are  inconceivable  monsters.  Poor  little 
Arenta  !  What  will  she  do  ?  " 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  221 

u  I  am  not  very  uneasy  for  her ;  she  has  wit 
enough  to  save  her  life  if  put  to  such  extremes; 
her  father  is  much  to  be  pitied  ;  and  it  is  incredible, 
though  true,  that  the  great  majority  of  our  people 
are  still  singing  the  Marseillaise,  though  every  letter 
of  it  is  washed  in  blood  and  tears." 

"  I  am  troubled  about  that  pretty  little  Marquise." 

"  She  is  clever  and  full  of  resource.  I  have  had 
only  one  letter  from  her  since  her  marriage,  and  it 
was  written  to  the  word  '  glories  ! '  She  seemed  to 
be  living  in  a  blaze  of  triumph  and  very  happy. 
But  change  is  the  order  of  the  day  in  France." 

"  Say  of  the  hour,  and  you  are  nearer  the  truth." 

"  If  Arenta  is  in  trouble  she  will  cry  out,  and 
call  for  help  on  every  hand.  I  never  knew  her  to 
make  a  mistake  where  her  own  interests  were  con 
cerned.  I  told  her  father  yesterday  that  it  would 
be  very  difficult  to  corner  Arenta,  and  comforted 
him  beyond  my  hope." 

During  this  conversation  Annie  was  in  a  reverie 
which  it  in  no  way  touched.  She  had  the  faculty 
of  shutting  her  ears  to  sounds  she  did  not  wish  to 
take  into  her  consciousness,  and  the  French  Revo 
lution  did  not  exist  for  her.  She  was  thinking  all 
the  time  of  her  Cousin  George,  and  of  the  singular 
abruptness  with  which  his  love  life  had  been  cut 
short;  and  it  was  this  train  of  thought  which  led 
her — when  the  murmur  of  voices  ceased  for  a  mo 
ment — to  say  impulsively  : 

"  Uncle,  it  is  my  desire  to  go  to  Philadelphia." 


222       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

The  Earl  looked  at  her  with  incredulity.  "  What 
nonsense,  Annie  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  The  thing  is 
impossible." 

"  Why  impossible  ?  " 

"  For  you,  I  mean.  You  would  be  very  ill  be 
fore  the  journey  was  half-finished.  The  roads,  as 
George  will  tell  you,  are  nearly  impassable ;  and 
the  weather  after  this  fog  may  be  intensely  cold. 
For  you  a  journey  to  Philadelphia  would  be  an 
arduous  undertaking,  and  one  without  any  reason 
able  motive." 

u  Oh,  indeed  !  Do  you  call  George  Washing 
ton  an  unreasonable  motive  ?  I  wish  to  see  him. 
Imagine  me  within  one  hundred  miles  of  this  su 
preme  hero,  and  turning  back  to  England  without 
kissing  his  hand.  I  should  be  laughed  at — I  should 
deserve  to  be  laughed  at." 

"  Yes,  if  the  journey  were  an  easier  one." 

u  To  be  sure,  the  roads  and  the  cold  will  be 
trials ;  but  then  my  uncle,  you  can  give  them  to 
me,  as  God  gives  trials  to  His  Beloved.  He  breaks 
them  up  into  small  portions,  and  puts  a  night's  sleep 
between  the  portions.  Can  you  not  also  do  this  ?  " 

"  You  little  Methodist !  "  answered  the  Earl, 
with  a  tender  gleam  in  his  eyes.  "I  see  that  I 
shall  have  to  give  you  your  own  way.  Will  you 
go  with  us,  George  ?  " 

"  It  will  be  a  relief.  New  York  is  in  the  dumps. 
Little  Burr  having  beaten  the  Schuyler  faction, 
thinks  himself  omnipotent ;  and  this  quarrel  be- 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  223 

twcen  Mr.  Jay  and  Governor  Clinton  keeps  every 
one  else  on  the  edge  of  ill-humour.  All  the  danc 
ing  part  of  the  town  are  gone  to  Philadelphia ;  I 
have  scarcely  a  partner  left ;  and  there  is  no  con 
versation  now  in  New  York  that  is  not  political. 
Burr,  Schuyler,  Jay,  Clinton  !  even  the  clergy  have 
gone  horse  and  foot  into  these  disputes." 

"  Burr  has  a  kind  of  cleverness  ;  one  must  ad 
mit  that." 

"  He  is  under  the  curse  of  knowing  everything." 

"  Nevertheless  his  opinions  will  not  alter  the 
axis  of  the  earth.  It  is  however  a  dangerous  thing 
to  live  in  a  community  where  politics  are  the  staple 
of  talk,  quarrels  spring  full  armed  from  a  word  in 
such  an  atmosphere." 

"  I  have  accommodated  my  politics,  sir,  to  my 
own  satisfaction ;  and  I  make  shift  to  answer  peo 
ple  according  to  their  idols.  I  vow,  I  am  so  weary 
of  the  words  4  honour  and  honesty  '  that  they  beat 
a  tattoo  on  my  brain." 

"  When  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  George,  you 
will  understand  that  these  words  are  the  coin,  with 
which  men  buy  office.  The  corruption  of  cour 
tiers  is  a  general  article  of  faith,  but  the  impudence 
of  patriots  going  to  market  with  their  honesty, 
beats  courtly  corruption  to  nothing.  However,  let 
us  go  to  Philadelphia  and  see  the  play.  That  is 
what  Annie  desires." 

"  I  desire  to  see  Washington.  I  wish  to  see  the 
greatest  of  Americans." 


224       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"Let  me  tell  you,  Annie,"  said  the  Earl,  "that 
there  never  was  a  man  in  America  less  American 
in  character  and  habits,  than  Washington." 

"  For  all  that,"  interrupted  George,  "  there  will 
never  come  a  man  after  him,  that  will  be  able  to 
rob  Washington  of  the  first  place  in  the  hearts  of 
the  American  nation." 

"  Nor  at  this  day  can  we  judge  him  as  he  de 
serves,"  added  the  Earl ;  "  for  he  is  cramped  and 
hustled  by  the  crowd  of  nobodies  around  him." 

"I  shall  look  at  him,  and  I  shall  know  him," 
said  Annie.  "  George  tells  me  that  he  is  good 
and  handsome  to  look  at." 

"  On  horseback,"  continued  the  Earl,  "  there  is 
none  like  him  ;  he  is  the  ideally  perfect  cavalier — 
graceful,  dignified,  commanding.  Indeed  so  superb 
a  man  comes  not  twice  in  a  generation.  At  Mon- 
mouth,  where  I  commanded  a  division,  I  remem 
ber  him  flying  along  the  lines,  cheering  the  men 
and  restoring  by  his  tremendous  enthusiasm  the 
fortunes  of  the  fight  to  our  standard.  The  grand 
est  of  men  !  You  are  right,  Annie,  it  would  be  a 
stupidity  to  go  back  to  England  without  seeing 
him." 

This  was  the  initial  conversation  which  after 
some  opposition,  and  a  little  temper  from  madame 
the  Countess,  resulted  in  the  Hyde  family  visiting 
Philadelphia.  It  was  a  great  trial  to  the  Countess 
to  leave  her  own  well  ordered,  comfortable  home 
for  apartments  in  an  hotel ;  and  she  was  never 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  225 

done  asserting  it  to  be  a  great  imprudence,  as  far 
as  Annie  was  concerned.  But  the  girl  was  im 
movable,  and  as  she  was  supported  by  her  uncle 
and  cousin,  the  Countess  was  compelled  to  acquiesce. 
But  really  she  was  so  ready  to  find  her  pleasure  in 
the  pleasure  of  those  she  loved,  that  this  acquies 
cence  was  not  an  unmitigated  trial.  She  suspected 
the  motive  for  her  son's  eager  desire  for  Philadel 
phia,  and  as  she  had  abandoned  without  much  re 
gret  the  hope  of  his  marriage  with  Annie  Hyde, 
she  was  far  from  being  disinclined  to  Cornelia. 
She  had  accustomed  herself  to  the  idea  of  Cor 
nelia  as  mistress  of  the  beautiful  home  she  had 
made.  She  was  an  American,  and  madame  loved 
her  country  and  wished  her  daughter-in-law  to  be 
of  American  lineage.  She  was  aware  that  some 
trouble  had  come  between  the  lovers,  and  she 
trusted  that  this  visit  might  be  the  ground  of  a  rec 
onciliation.  Without  question,  or  plan,  or  even 
strong  desire,  she  felt  the  wisdom  of  making  op 
portunities,  and  then  leaving  the  improvement  of 
them  to  circumstances. 

So  about  the  beginning  of  February  the  Hydes 
were  settled  in  Philadelphia  more  comfortably  than 
could  have  been  expected.  A  handsome  house, 
handsomely  furnished,  had  been  found ;  and  ma- 
dame  had  brought  with  her  the  servants  necessary 
to  care  for  it,  and  for  the  family's  comfort.  And 
she  was  glad,  when  the  weariness  of  the  journey 
was  over,  to  see  how  naturally  and  pleasantly  her 


226       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

husband  and  son  took  their  places  in  the  gay  world 
around  them.  She  watched  the  latter  constantly, 
being  sure  she  would  be  able  to  read  on  his  face, 
and  by  his  manner  and  temper,  whether  affairs  re 
lating  to  Cornelia  were  favourable. 

In  a  week  she  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  was  disappointed  ;  which  indeed  was  very  much 
the  case.  He  could  hear  nothing  of  Cornelia. 
He  had  never  once  got  a  glimpse  of  her  lovely 
countenance,  and  no  scrutiny  had  revealed  to  him 
the  place  of  her  abode.  Every  house  inhabited  by 
a  person  of  the  name  of  Willing,  had  been  the 
object  of  his  observation  ;  but  no  form  that  by 
any  possibility  could  be  mistaken  for  hers,  had 
passed  in  or  out  of  their  doors.  He  became 
ashamed  of  haunting  particular  streets,  and  fancied 
the  ladies  of  certain  houses  watched  him;  and 
that  the  maids  and  menservants  chattered  and 
speculated  about  his  motives. 

Every  day  when  he  went  out  Annie  gave  him 
an  assuring  smile,  every  day  when  he  returned,  she 
opened  her  eyes  on  him  with  the  question  in  them 
she  did  not  care  to  formulate;  and  every  day  she 
received  in  an  answer  an  almost  imperceptible  neg 
ative  shake  of  the  head,  that  slight  as  it  was,  said 
despairingly,  "  I  have  not  seen  her." 

A  month  passed  in  this  unfruitful  searching 
misery,  and  Hyde  was  almost  hopeless.  The  jour 
ney  appeared  to  be  altogether  a  failure ;  and  he 
said  to  Annie,  "  I  am  to  be  blamed  for  my  selfish- 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  227 

ness  in  permitting  you  to  come  here.  I  see  that 
you  have  tired  yourself  to  death  for  nothing  at  all." 

She  gave  her  head  a  resolute  little  shake  and  an 
swered,  "  Wait  and  see.  Something  is  coming. 
You  have  no  patience." 

"  I  assure  you,  Annie,  I  ought  to  have.  I  have 
been  buying  it  every  day  since  we  came  to  this 
detestable  place." 

"  The  place  is  not  to  blame.  Do  you  know 
that  I  am  going  to  Mrs.  Washington's  reception 
to-morrow  evening  ?  I  shall  see  the  President. 
He  may  even  speak  to  me ;  for  my  uncle  says  he 
appears  there,  only  as  a  private  gentleman.  Cousin, 
you  are  to  be  my  cavalier  if  it  please  you ;  and  my 
uncle  and  aunt  will  attend  us." 

"  I  am  devotedly  at  your  service,  Annie ;  and  I 
will  at  least  point  out  to  you  some  of  the  dazzling 
beauties  of  our  court — the  splendid  Mrs.  Bingham, 
the  Miss  Aliens,  and  Miss  Chews,  and  the  brilliant 
Sally  McKean." 

"  And  the  lovely  Cornelia  Moran  ?  " 

"  She  will  not  be  there." 

"  My  aunt  says  I  must  wear  a  white  gown,  and 
I  shall  do  you  all  the  justice  it  is  in  my  power  to 
do." 

"  I  am  always  proud  of  you,  Annie.  There  is 
no  one  like  you." 

"  Do  not  say  that,  George  !  "  The  few  words 
were  almost  a  cry  ;  and  she  closed  her  eyes,  and 
clasped  her  small  hands  tightly. 


228       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  What  have  I  said,  Annie  ?  " 

"  Nothing — nothing — only  do  not  flatter  me." 

"  It  is  the  very  truth." 

"  Let  it  pass — it  is  nothing."  She  was  silent 
afterwards,  like  a  person  in  pain ;  all  her  childlike 
gaiety  gone  ;  and  Hyde  having  a  full  share  of  a 
man's  stupidity  about  matters  of  pure  feeling,  did 
not  for  one  moment  suspect  why  his  praise  should 
give  her  pain.  He  thought  her  objection  must 
come  from  some  religious  scruple. 

The  next  evening  however  he  had  every  reason 
to  feel  proud  of  his  cousin.  She  was  really  an  ex 
quisite  little  creature  ;  angels  would  have  given  her 
all  she  wished,  she  was  so  charming.  The  touch 
of  phantasy  and  flame  in  her  nature  illumined  her 
face,  and  no  one  could  look  at  her  without  feeling 
that  a  fervent  and  transparent  soul  gazed  from  eyes, 
so  lambent  with  soft  spiritual  fire.  This  impres 
sion  was  enhanced  by  her  childlike  gown  of  white 
crape  over  soft  white  silk ;  it  suggested  her  sweet 
fretless  life,  and  also  something  unknown  and  un 
seen  in  her  very  simplicity. 

Hyde,  who  was  dressed  in  the  very  finest  mode, 
was  proud  to  take  her  on  his  arm ;  and  the  Earl 
watched  them  with  a  fond  and  faithful  hope  that 
all  would  soon  fall  out  as  he  desired  it.  He  could 
not  indeed  imagine  a  man  remaining  unimpressed 
by  a  beauty  so  captivating  to  the  highest  senses. 
u  It  will  be  as  we  wish,"  he  said  to  his  Countess  as 
they  watched  them  entering  the  waiting  coach; 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  229 

and   she   answered  with   that   smile   of   admission, 
which  has  always  its  reserved  opinion. 

Mrs.  Washington's  parlours  were  crowded  when 
they  entered  them,  but  the  splendid  throng  gave 
the  highest  expression  of  their  approval  possible, 
by  that  involuntary  silence  which  indicates  a  pleased 
astonishment.  The  Earl  at  once  presented  his 
niece  to  Mrs.  Washington,  and  afterwards  to  the 
President,  who  as  a  guest  of  Mrs.  Washington  was 
walking  about  the  rooms  talking  to  the  ladies  pres 
ent.  Resplendent  in  purple  and  white  satin  and 
the  finest  of  laces,  the  august  man  captivated  Lady 
Annie  at  the  first  glance.  She  curtsied  with  in 
imitable  grace,  and  would  have  kissed  the  hand  he 
held  out  to  her,  had  he  permitted  the  homage. 
For  a  few  minutes  he  remained  in  conversation 
with  the  party,  then  he  went  forward,  and  Hyde 
turning  with  his  beautiful  charge,  met  Cornelia  face 
to  face. 

They  looked  at  each  other  as  two  disembodied 
souls  might  meet  and  look  after  death — reproach 
ing,  questioning,  entreating,  longing.  Hyde  flushed 
and  paled,  and  could  not  for  his  very  life  make  the 
slightest  effort  at  recognition  or  speech.  Not  a 
word  would  come.  He  knew  not  what  word  to 
say.  Cornelia  who  had  seen  his  entry  was  more 
prepared.  She  gave  him  one  long  look  of  tender 
reproach  as  she  passed,  but  she  made  no  movement 
of  recognition.  If  she  had  said  one  syllable — if 
she  had  paused  one  moment — if  she  had  shown  in 


230       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

any  way  the  least  desire  for  a  renewal  of  their  ac 
quaintance,  Hyde  was  sure  his  heart  would  have 
instantly  responded.  As  it  was,  they  had  met  and 
parted  in  a  moment,  and  every  circumstance  had 
been  against  him.  For  it  was  the  most  natural 
thing  in  life,  that  he  should,  after  his  cousin's  in 
terview  with  Washington,  stoop  to  her  words  with 
delight  and  interest ;  and  it  was  equally  natural  for 
Cornelia  to  put  the  construction  on  his  attentions 
which  every  one  else  did.  Then  being  angry  at 
her  apparent  indifference,  he  made  these  attentions 
still  more  prominent ;  and  Cornelia  heard  on  every 
hand  the  confirmation  of  her  own  suspicions  : 

"  They  are  to  be  married  at  Easter.  What  a 
delightful  little  creature  !  " 

"  They  have  loved  each  other  all  their  lives." 
"  The  Earl  is  delighted  with  the  marriage." 
"  He  is  the  most  devoted  of  lovers." 
And  there  was   not  a  word  of  dissent  from  this 
opinion  until  pretty  Sally  McKean  said,  "  A  fig  for 
your  prophecies !     George    Hyde    has    loved    and 
galloped  away  a  score  of  times.     I  would  not  pay 
any  more  attention  to  his  proposals  and  promises, 
than  I  would   pay  to  the  wind  that  blows  where  it 
listeth;  here   to-day,  and   somewhere   else  to-mor 
row." 

To  all  these  speculations  Cornelia  forced  herself 
to  listen  with  a  calm  unalterable ;  and  Hyde  and 
Annie  watched  her  from  a  distance.  "  So  that  is 
the  marvellous  beauty  !  "  said  Annie. 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  231 

"  Is  she  not  marvellously  beautiful  ?  "  asked  Hyde. 

"  Yes.  I  will  say  that  much.  But  why  did  she 
look  at  you  with  so  much  of  reproach  ?  What 
have  you  done  to  her  ? " 

"That  is  it.  What  have  I  done  ?  Or  left  un 
done  ?  " 

"  Who  is  the  gentleman  with  her  ?  " 

"I  know  not.  She  has  many  relatives  here; 
wealthy  Quakers,  and  some  of  them  doubtless  of 
the  new  order,  who  do  not  disdain  the  frivolity  of 
fine  clothing." 

"  Indeed,  I  assure  you  the  Quakers  were  ever 
nice  in  their  taste  for  silks  and  velvets  and  laces. 
The  man  is  handsome  enough  even  to  be  her  es 
cort.  And  to  judge  by  appearances  he  is  her  devoted 
servant.  Will  you  regard  them,  cousin  ?  " 

"  I  do.  Alas,  I  see  nothing  else  !  She  is  more 
lovely  then  ever.'* 

"  She  is  wonderfully  dressed.  That  gown  of 
pale  blue  and  silver  would  make  any  woman  look 
like  an  angel — but  indeed  she  is  lovely  beyond  com 
parison.  There  are  none  like  her  in  this  room.  It 
will  be  a  thousand  pities  if  you  lose  her." 

"I  shall  be  inconsolable." 

"  You  may  have  another  opportunity  even  to 
night.  I  see  that  my  aunt  is  approaching  with  a 
young  lady,  if  you  do  not  wish  to  make  a  new  ac 
quaintance,  go  and  try  to  meet  Cornelia  again." 

"Thank  you,  Annie.  You  can  tell  me  what  I 
have  missed  afterwards." 


232       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

He  wandered  through  the  parlours  speaking  to  one 
and  another  but  ever  on  the  watch  for  Cornelia. 
He  saw  her  no  more  that  night.  She  had  with 
drawn  as  soon  as  possible  after  meeting  Hyde,  and 
he  was  so  miserably  disappointed,  so  angry  at  the 
unpropitious  circumstances  which  had  dominated 
their  casual  meeting,  that  he  hardly  spoke  to  any 
one  as  they  returned  home  ;  and  was  indeed  so  lit 
tle  interested  in  other  affairs  that  he  forgot  until  the 
next  day  to  ask  Annie  whose  acquaintance  he  had 
rather  palpably  refused. 

"  You  cannot  guess  who  it  was,"  said  Annie  in 
answer  to  his  query ;  "  so  I  will  make  a  favour  of 
telling  you.  Do  you  remember  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Darner,  rector  of  Downhill  Market  ?  " 

"  Very  well.  He  preached  very  tiresome  ser 
mons." 

"  The  young  lady  was  his  daughter  Mary." 

"  'Tis  a  miracle  !  What  is  Mary  Damer  doing 
in  America  ? " 

"  She  is  on  a  visit  to  her  cousin,  who  is  mar 
ried  to  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts.  He  is 
here  on  some  state  matter,  and  as  Miss  Damer 
also  wished  to  see  Washington,  he  brought  her 
with  him." 

"  Mary  Damer  !  We  went  nutting  together  one 
autumn.  She  came  often  to  Hyde  Court  when  I 
was  a  lad." 

"And  she  promises  to  come  often  to  see  me 
when  I  return  to  England.  I  wonder  what  we 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  233 

have  been  brought  together  for.  There  must  be  a 

reason  for  a  meeting  so  unlikely Can  it  be 

Cornelia  ?  " 

u  'Tis  the  most  improbable  of  suppositions.  I 
do  not  suppose  she  ever  saw  Cornelia." 

"  She  had  not  even  heard  of  her — and  yet  my 
mind  will  connect  them." 

"  You  have  no  reason  to  do  so ;  and  it  is  beyond 
all  likelihood.  I  am  sorry  I  went  away  from 
Mary." 

"  She  took  no  notice  of  your  desertion." 

"  That  is,  as  maybe.  I  was  a  mere  lad  when  I 
saw  her  last.  Is  she  passable  ?  " 

"  She  is  extremely  handsome.  My  aunt  heard 
that  she  is  to  marry  a  Boston  gentleman  of  good 
promise  and  estate.  I  dare  say  it  is  true." 

It  was  so  true  that  even  while  they  were  speak 
ing  of  the  matter  Mary  was  writing  these  words  to 
her  betrothed  :  "  Yesterday  I  met  the  Hydes.  You 
know  my  father  has  the  living  of  Downhill  Market 
from  them,  and  I  had  a  constraint  on  me  to  be 
agreeable.  The  young  Lord  got  out  of  my  way. 
Did  he  imagine  I  had  designs  on  him  ?  I  look  for 
a  better  man.  What  fate  brought  us  together  in 
Philadelphia,  I  know  not.  I  may  see  a  great  deal 
of  them  in  the  coming  summer,  and  then  I  may 
find  out.  At  present  I  will  dismiss  the  Hydes.  I 
have  met  pleasanter  company." 

Annie  dismissed  the  subject  with  the  same  sort 
of  impatience.  It  seemed  to  no  one  a  matter  of 


234       The  Maid  of    Maiden  Lane 

any  importance,  and  even  Annie  that  day  had  none 
of  the  penetrative  insight  which  belongs  to 

"  that  finer  atmosphere, 

Where  footfalls  of  appointed  things, 

Reverberent  of  days  to  be, 
Are  heard  in  forecast  echoings, 

Like  wave  beats  from  a  viewless  sea." 

As  for  Hyde,  he  was  shaken,  confused,  lifted  off 
his  feet,  as  it  were;  but  after  another  day  had 
passed,  he  had  come  to  one  steady  resolution — he 
would  speak  to  Cornelia  when  next  he  met  her,  no  mat 
ter  where  it  was,  or  who  was  with  her.  And  that 
passionate  stress  of  spirit  which  induced  this  re 
solve,  led  him  also  to  go  out  and  seek  for  this  op 
portunity. 

For  nearly  a  week  he  kept  this  conscious,  con 
stant  watch.  Its  insisting  sorrowful  longing  was 
like  a  cry  from  Love's  watch  towers,  but  it  did  not 
reach  the  beloved  one  ;  or  else  she  did  not  answer  it. 
One  bright  morning  he  resolved  to  walk  throught  the 
great  dry  goods  stores — Whiteside's,  Guest's,  and 
the  famous  Mrs.  Holland's,  where  the  beauties  of 
the  "gay  Quakers"  bought  their  choicest  fabrics 
in  foreign  chintzes,  lawns,  and  Indian  muslins. 
All  along  Front,  Arch,  and  Walnut  Streets,  the 
pavements  were  lumbered  with  boxes  and  bales  of 
fine  imported  goods,  and  he  was  getting  impatient 
of  the  bustle  and  pushing,  when  he  saw  Anthony 
Clymer  approaching  him.  The  young  man  was 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  235 

driving  a  new  and  very  spirited  team,  and  as  he 
with  some  difficulty  held  them,  he  called  to  Hyde 
to  come  and  drive  with  him.  Hyde  was  just  in  the 
weary  mood  that  welcomed  change,  and  he  leaped  to 
his  friend's  side,  and  felt  a  sudden  exhilaration  in  the 
rapid  motion  of  the  buoyant,  active  animals.  After 
an  hour's  driving  they  came  to  a  famous  hostelry, 
and  Clymer  said,  "  Let  us  give  ourselves  lunch,  and 
the  horses  bait  and  a  rest,  then  we  will  make  them 
show  their  mettle  home  again." 

The  proposal  met  with  a  hearty  response,  and 
the  young  men  had  a  luxurious  meal  and  more 
good  wine  than  they  ought  to  have  taken.  But 
Hyde  had  at  last  found  some  one  who  could  talk 
of  Cornelia ;  rave  of  her  face  and  figure,  and  vow 
she  was  the  topmost  beauty  in  Philadelphia.  He 
listened,  and  finally  asked  where  she  dwelt,  and 
learned  that  she  was  staying  with  Mr.  Theodore 
Willing,  a  wealthy  gentleman  of  the  strictest 
Quaker  principles,  but  whose  son  was  one  of  the 
"  feeble  men  or  wet  Quakers  "  who  wore  powder 
and  ruffles  and  dressed  like  a  person  of  fashion. 

"  He  dangles  around  the  bewitching  Miss 
Moran,  and  gives  no  other  man  a  chance,"  said 
Clymer  spitefully.  "  It  is  the  talk  from  east  to 
west,  and  'tis  said,  he  is  so  enamoured  of  the 
beauty,  that  he  will  have  her,  if  he  buy  her." 

"  Do  you  talk  in  your  sleep  ?  Or  do  you  tell 
your  dreams  for  truth  ? "  asked  Hyde  angrily. 
"  'Tis  not  to  be  believed  that  a  girl  so  lovely  can 


236       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

be  bought  by  mere  pounds  sterling.  A  woman's 
heart  lies  not  so  near  her  hand — God's  mercy  for 
it !  or  any  fool  might  seize  it." 

"  What  are  you  raging  at  ?  She  is  not  your 
mistress." 

"  Let  us  talk  of  horses — or  politics — or  the  last 
play — or  anything  but  women.  They  breed  quar 
rels,  if  you  do  but  name  them." 

"  Content.  I  will  tell  you  a  good  story  about 
Tom  Herring." 

The  story  was  evidently  a  good  one,  for  Hyde 
laughed  at  the  recital  with  a  noisy  merriment  very 
unusual  to  him.  The  champ  and  gallop  of  the 
horses,  and  Clymer's  vociferous  enjoyment  of  his 
own  wit,  blended  with  it ;  and  for  a  moment  or 
two  Hyde  was  under  a  physical  exhilaration  as  in 
toxicating  as  the  foam  of  the  champagne  they  had 
been  drinking.  In  the  height  of  this  meretricious 
gaiety,  a  carriage,  driving  at  a  rather  rapid  rate 
turned  into  the  road ;  and  Cornelia  suddenly  raised 
her  eyes  to  the  festive  young  men,  and  then 
dropped  them  with  an  abrupt,  even  angry  ex 
pression. 

Hyde  became  silent  and  speechless,  and  Clymer 
was  quickly  infected  by  the  very  force  and  potency 
of  his  companion's  agitation  and  distressed  sur 
prise.  He  heard  him  mutter,  "  Oh  this  is  intoler 
able  !  "  and  then,  it  was,  as  if  a  cold  sense  of  dis 
like  had  sprung  up  between  them. — Both  were 
glad  to  escape  the  other's  company,  and  Hyde  fled 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  237 

to  the  privacy  of  his  own  room,  that  he  might 
hide  there  the  almost  unbearable  chagrin  and 
misery  this  unfortunate  meeting  had  caused  him. 

u  Where  shall  I  run  to  avoid  myself  ?  "  he 
cried  as  he  paced  the  floor  in  an  agony  of  shame. 
"  She  will  never  respect  me  again.  She  ought  not. 
I  am  the  most  wretched  of  lovers.  Such  a  tom 
fool  to  betray  me  as  Anthony  Clymer !  A  man 
like  a  piece  of  glass,  that  I  have  seen  through  a 
dozen  times !  "  Then  he  threw  himself  into  a 
chair  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  and  wept 
tears  full  of  anger  and  shameful  distress. 

For  some  days  sorrow,  and  confusion,  and  dis 
traction  bound  his  senses  ;  he  refused  all  com 
pany,  would  neither  eat,  nor  sleep,  nor  talk,  and 
he  looked  as  white  and  wan  as  a  spectre.  A 
stupid  weight,  a  dismal  sullen  stillness  succeeded 
the  storm  of  shame  and  grief;  and  he  felt  himself 
to  be  the  most  forlorn  of  human  beings.  If  it 
had  been  only  possible  to  undo  things  done  !  he 
would  have  bought  the  privilege  with  years.  At 
length,  however,  the  first  misery  of  that  wretched 
meeting  passed  away,  and  then  he  resolved  to  for 
get. 

"  It  is  all  past !  "  he  said  despairingly.  "  She  is 
lost  to  me  forever !  Her  memory  breaks  my 
heart !  I  will  not  remember  any  longer !  I  will 
forfeit  all  to  forgetfulness.  Alas,  alas,  Cornelia  ! 
Though  you  would  not  believe  me,  it  was  the  per- 
fectest  love  that  I  gave  you  !  " 


238       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Cornelia's  sorrow,  though  quite  as  profound,  was 
different  in  character.  Her  sex  and  various  other 
considerations  taught  her  more  restraint ;  but  she 
also  felt  the  situation  to  be  altogether  unendurable, 
and  after  a  few  moments  of  bitterly  eloquent 
silence,  she  said  — 

"  Mother,  let  us  go  home.  I  can  bear  this 
place  no  longer.  Let  us  go  home  to-morrow. 
Twice  this  past  week  I  have  been  made  to  suffer 
more  than  you  can  imagine.  The  man  is  appar 
ently  worthless — but  I  love  him." 

"  You  say  c  apparently  '  Cornelia  ?  " 

"  Oh,  how  can  I  tell  ?  There  may  be  excuses 
— compulsions — I  do  not  know  what.  I  am  only 
sure  of  one  thing,  that  I  love  and  suffer.'* 

For  despite  all  reason,  despite  even  the  evidence 
of  her  own  eyes,  Cornelia  kept  a  reserve.  And  in 
that  pitiful  last  meeting,  there  had  been  a  flash 
from  Hyde's  eyes,  that  said  to  her — she  knew  not 
what  of  unconquerable  love  and  wrong  and  sorrow 
— a  flash  swifter  than  lightning  and  equally  po 
tential.  It  had  stirred  into  tumult  and  revolt  all 
the  platitudes  with  which  she  had  tried  to  quiet  her 
restless  heart;  made  her  doubtful,  pitiful  and  uncer 
tain  of  all  things,  even  while  her  lover's  reckless  gaiety 
seemed  to  confirm  her  worst  suspicions.  And  she 
felt  unable  to  face  constantly  this  distressing  dubi 
ous  questioning,  so  that  it  was  with  almost  irritable 
entreaty  she  said,  "  Let  us  go  home,  mother." 

"  I  have  desired  to  do  so  for  two  weeks,  Cor- 


Life  Tied  in  a  Knot  239 

nelia,"    answered     Mrs.     Moran.     "  I    think    our 
visit  has  already  been  too  long." 

"  My  Cousin  Silas  has  now  begun  to  make  love 
to  me  ;  and  his  mother  and  sisters  like  it  no  better 
than  I  do.  I  hate  this  town  with  its  rampant,  af 
fected  fashion  and  frivolities  !  It  is  all  a  pretence  ! 
The  people  are  naturally  saints,  and  they  are  ab 
surd  and  detestable,  scheming  to  make  the  most  of 
both  worlds — going  to  meeting  and  quoting  texts — 
and  then  playing  that  they  are  men  and  women  of 
fashion.  Mother,  let  us  go  home  at  once.  Lucinda 
can  pack  our  trunks  to-day,  and  we  will  leave  in 
the  morning." 

"  Can  we  go  without  an  escort  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,  we  can.  Lucinda  will  wait  on  us — 
she  too  is  longing  for  New  York — and  who  can 
drive  us  more  carefully  than  Cato  ?  And  my  dear 
mother,  if  Silas  wants  to  escort  us,  do  not  permit 
him.  Please  be  very  positive.  I  am  at  the  end 
of  my  patience.  I  am  like  to  cry  out !  I  am  so 
unhappy,  mother ! " 

"  My  dear,  we  will  go  home  to-morrow.  We 
can  make  the  journey  in  short  stages.  Do  not 
break  down  now,  Cornelia.  It  is  only  a  little 
longer." 

"  I  shall  not  break  down — if  we  go  home."  And 
as  the  struggle  to  resist  sorrow  proves  the  capacity 
to  resist  it,  Cornelia  kept  her  promise.  As  they 
reached  New  York  her  cheerfulness  increased,  and 
when  they  turned  into  Maiden  Lane,  she  clapped 


240       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

her  hands  for  very  joy.  And  oh,  how  delightful 
was  the  pleasant  sunny  street,  the  familiar  houses, 
the  brisk  wind  blowing,  the  alert  cheerful  looking 
men  and  women  that  greeted  each  other  in  passing 
with  lively  words,  and  bright  smiles  !  O  how  de 
lightful  the  fresh  brown  garden,  in  which  the 
crocuses  were  just  beginning  to  peep,  the  bright 
looking  home,  the  dear  father  running  with  glad 
surprise  to  greet  them,  the  handsome,  pleasant 
rooms,  the  refreshing  tea,  the  thousand  small  name 
less  joys  that  belong  to  the  little  darling  word 
"Home." 

She  ran  upstairs  to  her  own  dear  room,  laid  her 
head  on  her  pillow,  sat  down  in  her  favourite  chair, 
opened  her  desk,  let  in  all  the  sunshine  she  could, 
and  then  fell  with  holy  gratitude  on  her  knees  and 
thanked  God  for  her  sweet  home,  and  for  the  full 
cup  of  mercies  He  had  given  her  to  drink  in  it. 

When  she  went  downstairs  the  mail  had  just 
come  in,  and  the  Doctor  sat  before  a  desk  covered 
with  newspapers  and  letters.  u  Cornelia,"  he  cried 
in  a  voice  full  of  interest,  "  here  is  a  letter  for  you 
— a  long  letter.  It  is  from  Paris." 

"  It  is  from  Arenta  !  "  she  exclaimed,  as  she  ex 
amined  the  large  sheets  closed  with  a  great  splash 
of  red  wax,  bearing  the  de  Tounnerre  crest.  It 
had  indeed  come  from  Paris,  the  city  of  dreadful 
slaughter,  yet  Cornelia  opened  it  with  a  smiling  ex 
citement,  as  she  said  again  : — 

"  It  is  from  Arenta  !  " 


CHAPTER  XI 

WE  HAVE  DONE  WITH  TEARS  AND  TREASONS 

u  HERE  is  a  letter  from  Arenta !  "  repeated  the 
Doctor  to  his  wife,  who  was  just  entering  the  room. 
"  Come,  Ava,  and  listen  to  what  she  has  to  say.  I 
have  no  doubt  it  will  be  interesting."  Then  Cor 
nelia  read  aloud  the  following  words : 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  CORNELIA  : 

If  to-day  I  could  walk  down  Maiden 
Lane,  if  to-day  I  could  see  you  and  talk  to  you,  I 
should  imagine  myself  in  heaven.  For  as  to  this 
city,  I  think  that  in  hell  the  name  of  "  Paris  "  must 
have  spread  itself  far  and  wide.  Indeed  I  often 
wonder  if  I  am  yet  on  the  earth,  or  if  I  have  gone 
away  in  my  sleep  to  the  country  of  the  devil  and 
his  angels.  Even  as  I  am  writing  to  you,  my  pen 
is  shaking  with  terror,  for  I  hear  the  tumbril  come 
jolting  along,  and  I  know  that  it  is  loaded  with 
innocent  men  and  women  who  are  going  to  the 
guillotine;  and  I  know  also  that  it  is  accompanied 
by  a  mob  of  dreadful  creatures — mostly  women — 
for  I  hear  them  singing — no,  screaming — in  a  kind 
of  rage, 

"  fa  ira  les  aristocrates  d  la  lanterne  !  " 

Do  you  remember  our  learning  in  those  happy 

days  at  Bethlehem  of  the  slaughter  of  Christians 

by  Nero  ?     Very  well ;  right  here  in  the  Paris  of 

Marat  and   Robespierre,  you  may  hear  constantly 

241 


242       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

the  same  brutal  cry  that  filled  the  Rome  of  the 
Caesars — "  Death  to  the  Christians  !  "  Famine,  an 
archy,  murder,  are  everywhere ;  and  I  live  from 
moment  to  moment,  trembling  if  a  step  comes 
near  me.  For  Athanase  is  imprudence  itself.  His 
opinions  will  be  the  death  of  him.  He  will  not 
desert  the  Girondists,  though  Mr.  Morris  tells  him 
their  doom  is  certain.  Marat  is  against  them,  and 
the  Jacobins  —  who  are  deliriously  wicked — are 
against  them,  and  the  mob  of  the  Faubourgs  is 
against  them ;  and  this  mob  is  always  of  one  mind, 
always  on  the  spot,  and  always  hungry  and  ready 
for  anarchy  and  blood.  Besides  which,  they  are 
already  accused  of  having  sold  themselves  to  Mr. 
Pitt.  Very  often  I  have  heard  my  dear  father  talk 
ing  of  universal  suffrage  as  the  bulwark  of  liberty ; 
well  then,  we  have  now,  and  here,  an  universal  suf 
frage  that  is  neither  a  fraud  nor  a  fiction ;  and  as 
Athanase  says,  "  it  is  expressing  itself  every  min 
ute,  in  the  crimes  of  the  Holy  Guillotine." 

And  yet  Paris  makes  a  pretence  of  being  gay  and 
of  enjoying  itself.  We  go  to  the  theatre  and  the 
opera,  and  we  dance,  as  it  were,  red,  wet-shod  to 
the  hideous  strains  of  the  Carmagnole.  It  is  in 
deed  a  dance  of  death.  The  other  night  we  were 
at  a  reception  given  by  Madame  Talma  to  the  vic 
torious  General  Dumouriez.  All  the  Brissot  party 
were  there.  Your  father  will  remember  Brissot  de 
Warville  very  well.  He  was  greatly  petted  by 
Mrs.  Jay  and  the  aristocracy  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia.  Jefferson  made  a  friend  of  him,  and 
even  Washington  talked  with  him  about  his  book 
on  our  country.  Then  he  passed  himself  off  as  a 
noble,  but  he  is  really  the  son  of  an  innkeeper.  I 
had  so  often  heard  of  him,  that  I  regarded  with  in 
terest  his  pale  face  and  grave,  melancholy  manner. 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    243 

He  was  accompanied  by  Camilla  Desmoulins,  and 
by  Danton ;  the  latter  a  man  almost  terrible  in  his 
ugliness.  David,  the  painter  of  Socrates,  was  there ; 
he  had  his  hair  frizzed,  and  was  dressed  splendidly ; 
and  with  him  was  Chenier,  more  tragic  looking 
than  any  of  his  plays.  The  salons  were  filled  with 
flowers  and  beautiful  women ;  among  them  the 
majestic  Madame  Vestris,  and  the  lovely  Mademoi 
selle  Candeille,  who  was  singing  a  song  when  there 
arose  a  sudden  indescribable  noise,  growing  louder 
and  louder,  and  then  the  cry  of  Marat !  Marat! 
and  the  "  Friend  of  the  People  "  entered.  Now  I 
shall  spare  a  few  minutes  to  tell  you,  that  no  one 
has  made  frightful  enough  his  large  bony  face,  his 
thin  lips  and  his  livid  complexion.  He  wore  an 
old  carmagnole,  a  dirty  handkerchief  twisted  about 
his  neck,  leather  breeches,  shoes  without  stockings, 
and  a  piece  of  red  cotton  round  his  head,  from 
which  there  hung  a  few  locks  of  greasy  hair.  A 
nervous  twitching  keeps  him  constantly  moving, 
and  he  has  the  leprosy  : — this  is  well  known.  He 
walked  straight  to  Dumouriez,  who  said  disdain 
fully,  "Ah!  are  you  the  man  they  call  Marat?" 
Marat  immediately  demanded  from  him  an  account 
of  military  measures  he  had  taken.  They  had  some 
sharp  conversation  which  I  did  not  hear,  and  Marat 
finally  went  away  uttering  the  most  insulting  threats, 
and  leaving  every  one  in  a  state  of  mortal  terror. 
The  next  day  the  newsboys  were  shouting  u  the 
discovery  of  a  great  plot  by  Marat,  the  Friend  of 
the  People !  Great  meeting  of  Aristocrats  at  Tal 
mas,  etc." 

This  is  the  kind  of  pleasure  we  have ;  as  to 
religion,  there  is  no  longer  any  religion.  Every 
where  the  Almighty  is  spoken  of  as  the  "  soi-disant 
God."  The  monarchy  is  abolished,  and  yet  so 


244       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

ignorant  are  the  leaders  of  the  people,  that  when 
Brissot  mentioned  the  word  Republic  in  Petion's 
house,  Robespierre  said  with  a  grin,  "  Republic  ! 
Republic  !  what's  a  republic  ?  "  Spying,  and  fear, 
and  death  penetrate  into  the  most  private  houses ; 
above  all,  fear,  constant  fear  of  every  one  with 
whom  you  come  in  contact.  This  feeling  is  so 
universal,  that  some  one  has  conjugated  it  thus — 
I  am  afraid — Thou  art  afraid — He  is  afraid — We 
are  afraid — You  are  afraid — They  are  afraid — For 
as  death  has  been  officially  declared  "  an  endless 
sleep  "  any  crime  is  possible  ;  the  mob  have  no  fear 
of  hell,  and  as  for  the  guillotine,  it  is  their  opera 
and  their  perpetual  comedy.  Very  soon  these 
things  must  bring  on  France  the  chastisement  of 
the  Lord ;  and  I  shall  not  be  sorry  for  it. 

I  have  told  you  the  truth  about  our  condition, 
because  I  have  just  had  a  letter  from  my  father, 
and  he  talks  of  leaving  his  business  in  Claos 
Bergen's  care,  and  coming  here  to  look  after  me. 
You  must  convince  him,  that  he  could  do  me  no 
good  whatever,  and  that  he  might  do  me  much 
harm.  He  is  outspoken  as  a  Zealander,  and  what 
is  in  his  head  and  his  heart,  would  come  to  his  lips ; 
also,  if  it  should  come  to  flight,  he  would  em 
barrass  me  very  much.  Tell  him  not  to  fear; 
Arenta  says,  not  to  fear.  I  may  indeed  have  to 
take  a  seat  in  "  the  terrible  armchair  "  I  but  I  shall 
not  go  to  the  guillotine  ;  I  know  that.  While 
Minister  Morris  is  here  I  have  a  friend  that  can  do 
all  that  can  be  done.  I  have  had  a  few  letters  from 
Rem,  but  they  do  not  satisfy  me.  He  is  in  love, 
and  not  with  you.  Will  you  please  inform  me  what 

1  The  chair  in  which  the  accused  sat  before  the  Revolutionary 
Tribunal  and  from  which  they  usually  went  to  the  guillotine. 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    249 

that  means  ?  Say  to  Aunt  Angelica  that  I  am 
astonished  at  her  silence ;  and  ask  our  good 
Domine  to  pray  that  I  may  soon  return  to  a 
country  where  God  reigns.  Never  again  do  I 
wish  to  spend  one  minute  in  a  place  where  there  is 
no  God  ;  for  whatever  they  may  call  that  place,  its 
real  name  is  hell.  Write  me  a  long  letter  and  tell 
me  all  the  news  of  New  York,  and  with  my 
respectful  remembrance  to  your  dear  father  and 
mother,  I  am  always  your  loving  friend, 

ARENTA,  MARQUISE  DE  TOUNNERRE. 

"  Poor  Arenta  !  "  said  the  Doctor  when  Cornelia 
had  finished  the  wretched  epistle.  u  She  is  however 
showing  the  mettle  of  the  race  from  which  she 
sprang.  The  spirit  of  the  men  who  fought  Alva  is 
in  her,  and  I  think  she  will  be  a  match  for  Marat, 
if  it  comes  to  that.  Suppose  you  go  and  see  Van 
Ariens,  and  give  him  all  the  comfort  you  can. 
Are  you  too  weary  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  see  him.  I  am  not  tired  now. 
Home  is  such  a  good  doctor." 

"  I  think  you  will  find  him  in  his  house.  He 
comes  from  his  office  very  early  these  days." 

Cornelia  crossed  the  street  and  was  going  to 
knock  at  the  door,  when  Van  Ariens  hastily  opened 
it.  His  broad  face  shone  with  pleasure,  and  when 
Cornelia  told  him  her  errand,  he  was  in  a  hurry  of 
loving  anxiety  to  hear  what  his  child  had  written. 

"  I  understand,"  he  said,  when  he  had  heard  the 
letter.  "  She  is  frightened,  the  poor  little  one  ! 
but  she  will  smile  and  say  4  it  is  nothing.'  That  is 


246       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

her  way.  However,  I  yet  think  I  must  go  to 
her." 

"  Do  not,"  urged  Cornelia.  "  France  is  now  at 
war  with  Holland,  and  you  would  be  recognized  as 
a  Dutchman." 

"That  is  so.  My  tongue  would  tell  tales  on 
me  ;  and  to  go — even  to  heaven — by  the  guillotine, 
is  not  what  a  good  man  would  wish.  No 
indeed !  " 

"  And  you  may  see  by  Arenta's  letter,  that  she 
does  not  fear  the  guillotine.  Come  over  to-night 
and  talk  to  my  father  and  mother,  and  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  saw  in  Philadelphia." 

"Well  then,  I  will  come." 

"  Is  Madame  Jacobus  back  in  New  York  yet  ?  " 

"  She  is  in  London." 

"  But  why  in  London  r  " 

"  That,  I  know  not.  Two  reasons  I  can  sup 
pose,  but  which  is  right,  or  if  either  be  right,  that 
is  beyond  my  certainty." 

u  Is  her  sister-in-law  dead  ?  " 

"  She  is  dead.  Her  husband  was  an  English 
man  ;  perhaps  then  it  is  about  some  property  in 
England  she  has  gone.  If  it  is  not  that,  of  nothing 
else  can  I  think  but  Captain  Jacobus.  But  my 
sister  Angelica  had  ever  two  ways — nothing  at  all 
she  would  say  about  her  money  or  her  business; 
but  constantly,  to  every  one,  she  would  talk  of  her 
husband.  I  think  then  it  is  money  or  property 
that  has  taken  her  to  England.  For  if  it  had  been 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    247 

Jacobus,  to  the  whole  town  she  would  have  told  it." 
Then  he  took  both  Cornelia's  hands  in  his,  and 
looking  at  her  earnestly  said  — 

u  Poor  Rem  !     Impossible  is  it  ?  " 

"  Quite  impossible,  sir,"  she  answered. 

"  When  he  got  thy  letter  refusing  his  love  and 
offer,  he  went  to  Boston.  I  think  he  will  not 
come  back  to  me.  I  am  very  sorry,"  he  said 
simply,  and  he  let  her  hands  drop. 

"  I  am  sorry  also — for  your  sake.  I  hear  how 
ever  that  Rem  is  doing  well  in  Boston." 

u  Better  than  his  hopes.  Very  good  fortune  has 
come  to  him." 

"And  you,  sir?" 

11 1  am  not  doing  much  at  present — but  Smith 
and  Warren  do  less.  In  an  hour  or  two  to  your 
house  I  will  come.  There  is  plenty  to  talk 
about." 

The  next  day  Cornelia  walked  down  Broadway 
to  Madame  Jacobus'  house.  It  was  closed  and 
desolate  looking,  and  she  sighed  as  she  compared 
its  old  bright  spotless  comfort,  with  its  present 
empty  forlornness.  The  change  typified  the 
change  in  her  heart  and  love,  but  ere  she  could 
entertain  the  thought,  her  eyes  fell  upon  the  trees 
in  the  garden,  full  of  the  pale  crinkled  leaves  of 
spring,  and  she  saw  the  early  flowers  breaking 
through  the  dark  earth,  and  the  early  shrubs  burst 
ing  into  white  and  golden  blooms.  In  some  way 
they  had  a  message  for  her;  and  she  went  home 


248       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

with  hope  budding  in  her  heart.  Soon  after  Mrs. 
Moran  heard  her  singing  at  her  work, 

"  The  far  east  glows, 
The  morning  wind  blows  fresh  and  free ; 
Should  not  the  hour  that  wakes  the  rose 
Awaken  thee  ? 

No  longer  sleep  — 

Oh  listen  now ! 
I  wait  and  weep, 

But  where  art  thou?" 

From  one  to  another  song  she  went,  simple  melo 
dies  all  of  them,  delightful  little  warblings  of  love, 
which  except  for  their  gladness  and  loyalty,  had 
nothing  in  them  to  charm. 

She  was  a  deserted  maiden.  Her  lover  had 
palpably  and  with  extreme  cruelty  deceived  her; 
but  she  had  grieved,  and  forgiven.  And  love 
brings  its  reward,  even  if  unrequited.  Those  who 
love,  and  have  loved,  are  the  better  for  the  revela 
tion  ;  for  love  for  love's  sake  enriches  and  blesses 
the  lover  to  the  very  end  of  life.  She  did  not  for 
get,  for  love  has  everlasting  remembrance ;  and 
she  did  not  wish  to  forget,  for  a  great  affection  is  a 
great  happiness,  and  the  whole  soul  can  find  shelter 
in  it. 

Neither  were  her  days  monotonous  or  unhappy. 
All  the  real  pleasures  of  life  lie  in  narrow  compass ; 
and  she  found  herself  very  often  a  little  hurried  for 
want  of  time.  She  had  not,  it  is  true,  the  resources 
of  the  woman  of  to-day — no  literary,  musical,  so- 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    249 

cial,  or  sporting  clubs  existed  for  Cornelia ;  but 
she  had  duties  and  devices  that  made  every  mo 
ment  pleasant  or  profitable.  Many  hours  daily 
were  given  to  fine  needlework — calm  quiet  hours 
full  of  thought  as  well  as  work ;  she  had  her  music 
to  practice,  new  books  and  papers  to  read,  calls  to 
make,  mantua  makers  and  milliners  to  interview, 
dinners  and  dances  and  tea-parties  to  attend, 
shopping  to  look  after,  delicate  bits  of  darning  and 
mending  to  exercise  her  skill  on,  creams  and  pasties 
and  cakes  to  prepare,  visitors  to  welcome  and  en 
tertain,  and  many  other  duties  which  sprang  up — 
as  extras  do — unexpectedly,  and  yet  which  opened 
the  door  for  very  pleasant  surprises  and  events. 

Besides  which,  there  was  her  father.  After  her 
return  from  school  she  had  always  driven  with  him 
to  some  extent ;  but  his  claim  on  her  now  was 
often  a  little  exacting.  He  said  the  fresh  spring 
winds  were  good  for  her,  and  that  she  stayed  in 
the  house  too  much,  and  there  was  no  evading  the 
dictum  that  came  with  both  parental  and  medical 
authority.  Perhaps  this  demand  upon  her  time 
would  not  have  been  made  if  the  Hydes  had  been 
in  New  York ;  but  Doctor  Moran  by  frequent  in 
quiries  satisfied  himself  that  they  were  yet  in 
Philadelphia;  and  for  his  daughter's  satisfaction 
he  frequently  said  as  they  drove  up  Maiden  Lane, 
"  We  will  take  the  Greenwich  Road,  there  is  no 
fear  of  our  meeting  any  one  we  do  not  wish  to 
see."  She  understood  the  allusion,  and  was  satis- 


250       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

fied  to  escape  meetings  that  promised  her  nothing 
but  pain. 

In  the  month  of  May  there  occurred  one  of 
those  wet  spells  which  are  so  irritating  "growing 
weather "  of  course,  but  very  tiresome  to  those 
who  felt  the  joy  of  spring  escaping  them.  Week 
after  week  it  was  too  damp,  or  the  winds  were  too 
sharp,  or  the  roads  too  heavy  for  quick  driving,  and 
thus  the  month  of  all  months  went  out  of  the  cal 
endar  with  few  red  letter  days  to  brighten  it.  Then 
June  came  in  royally,  and  Cornelia  was  glad  of  the 
sunshine  and  the  breeze  and  the  rapid  canter ;  and 
for  a  week  or  two  she  was  much  out  with  her 
father.  But  he  was  now  ever  on  the  watch,  and 
she  judged  from  the  circumstance  that  the  Hydes 
were  back  in  New  York.  Besides  which,  he  did 
not  any  longer  give  her  the  assurance  of  not  meet 
ing  any  one  they  did  not  wish  to  see. 

One  exquisite  day  as  they  went  up  Maiden  Lane 
the  Doctor  said — "  My  friend  General  Hewitt  sails 
for  England  to-day,  and  we  will  go  and  wish  him  a 
good  voyage."  So  to  the  pier  they  went,  and  the 
Doctor  left  his  carriage,  and  taking  Cornelia  on 
his  arm  walked  down  to  where  the  English  packet 
was  lying.  They  were  a  little  too  late  to  go  on 
board,  for  the  shoremen  were  taking  away  the 
gang-plank,  and  the  sailors  preparing  to  lift  the 
anchor;  but  the  General  stood  leaning  over  the 
side  of  the  vessel,  and  exchanged  some  last  words 
with  his  friend. 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    251 

While  Cornelia  listened,  she  became  suddenly 
conscious  of  the  powerful  magnetism  of  some 
human  eye,  and  obeying  its  irresistible  attraction 
she  saw  George  Hyde  steadily  regarding  her.  He 
stood  by  the  side  of  his  father,  as  handsome  as  on 
that  May  morning  when  he  had  first  looked  love 
into  her  heart.  She  was  enthralled  again  by  his 
glance,  and  never  for  one  moment  thought  of  re 
sisting  the  appeal  it  made  to  her.  With  a  con 
scious  tenderness  she  waved  him  an  adieu  whose 
spirit  he  could  not  but  feel.  In  the  same  moment 
he  lifted  his  hat  and  stood  bareheaded  looking  at 
her  with  a  pathetic  inquiry,  which  made  her  in 
wardly  cry  out,  "  Oh,  what  does  he  mean  ?  "  The 
packet  was  moving — the  wind  filled  the  blowing 
sails — the  hoarse  crying  of  the  sailormen  blended 
with  the  "  good-byes  "  of  the  passengers — and  the 
Earl,  aware  of  the  sad  and  silent  parting  within  his 
sight — moved  away  as  Cornelia  again  waved  a  mute 
farewell  to  her  lost  lover.  Then  the  Doctor 
touched  her  — 

"  Why  do  you  do  that  ? "  he  asked  angrily. 

"  Because  I  must  do  it,  father ;  I  cannot  help  it. 
I  desire  to  do  it." 

"  I  am  in  a  hurry ;  let  us  go  home." 

Filling  her  eyes  with  the  beauty  of  the  splendid 
looking  youth  still  standing  bareheaded  watching 
her,  seeing  even  such  trivial  things  as  his  long  cloak 
thrown  backward  over  his  shoulder,  his  white  hand 
holding  his  lifted  hat,  and  the  wind-tossed  curls  of 


The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

his  handsome  head,  she  turned  away  with  a  sigh. 
The  Doctor  drove  rapidly  to  Maiden  Lane  and  did 
not  on  the  way  speak  a  word  j  and  Cornelia  was 
glad  of  it.  That  image  of  her  lover  standing  on 
the  moving  ship  watching  her  with  his  heart  in  his 
eyes,  rilled  her  whole  consciousness.  Never  would 
it  be  possible  for  her  to  forget  it,  or  to  put  any 
other  image  in  its  place.  She  thanked  her  good 
angel  for  giving  her  such  a  comforting  memory ; 
it  seemed  as  if  the  sting  had  been  taken  out  of  her 
sorrow.  Henceforward  she  was  resolved  to  love 
without  a  doubt.  She  would  believe  in  Joris,  no 
matter  what  she  had  seen,  or  what  she  had  heard. 
There  were  places  in  life  to  which  alas  !  truth 
could  not  come ;  and  this  might  be  one  of  them. 
Though  all  the  world  blamed  her  lover,  she  would 
excuse  him.  Her  heart  might  ache,  her  eyes  might 
weep,  but  in  that  aching  heart  and  in  those  weep 
ing  eyes,  his  splendid  image  would  live  in  that 
radiant  dimness  which  makes  the  unseen  face,  often 
more  real  than  the  present  one. 

Doctor  Moran  divined  something  of  this  reso 
lute  temper,  and  it  made  him  silent.  He  felt  that 
his  daughter  had  come  to  a  place  where  she  had 
put  reason  firmly  aside,  and  given  her  whole  assent 
to  the  assurances  of  her  intuition.  He  had  no  ar 
guments  for  an  antagonism  of  this  kind.  What 
could  he  say  to  a  soul  that  presaged  a  something, 
and  then  believed  it  ?  His  instinctive  sagacity  told 
him  that  silence  was  now  the  part  of  wisdom. 


SHE    \VAVKD    HIM    AN    ADIEU." 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    253 

But  though  he  took  her  silently  home  he  was  con 
scious  of  a  great  relief.      His  watch  was  over. 

Now  a  woman's  intuition  is  like  a  leopard's 
spring,  it  seizes  the  truth — if  it  seize  it  at  all — at 
the  first  bound ;  and  it  was  by  this  unaccountable 
mental  agility  Cornelia  had  arrived  at  the  convic 
tion  of  her  lover's  fidelity.  At  any  rate,  she  felt 
confident,  that  if  circumstances  had  compelled 
him  to  be  false  to  her,  the  wrong  had  been  sin 
cerely  mourned ;  and  she  was  able  to  forgive  the 
offence  that  was  blotted  out  with  tears.  She  re 
flected  also,  that  now  he  was  so  far  away,  it  would 
be  possible  for  her  to  call  upon  Madame  Van  Heem- 
skirk,  and  also  upon  Madame  Jacobus  as  soon  as 
she  returned  ;  but  if  Hyde  had  remained  in  New 
York,  these  houses  would  necessarily  be  closed  to 
her,  for  he  was  a  constant  visitor  at  both. 

She  resolved  therefore  to  call  upon  Madame 
Van  Heemskirk  the  following  week.  She  ex 
pected  the  old  lady  might  treat  her  a  little  form 
ally,  perhaps  even  with  some  coldness,  but  she 
thought  it  worth  while  to  test  her  kindness.  Joris 
had  once  told  her  that  his  grandfather  and  grand 
mother  both  approved  their  love,  and  they  must 
know  of  his  desertion,  and  also  of  the  reason  for 
it.  Yet  there  was  in  her  heart  such  a  reluctance 
to  take  any  step  that  had  the  appearance  of  seek 
ing  her  lost  lover,  that  she  put  off  this  visit  day 
after  day,  finding  in  the  weather  or  in  some  house- 


2_J4       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

hold  duty  always  a  fair  excuse  for  doing  so,  until 
one  morning  the  Doctor  said  at  breakfast : 

"  Councillor  De  Vrees  died  yesterday,  and  there 
is  to  be  a  great  funeral.  Every  Dutchman  in  town 
will  be  there,  and  many  others  beside.  He  has 
left  an  immense  fortune." 

"  Who  told  you  this  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Moran. 

"I  met  Van  Heemskirk  and  his  wife  going 
there.  Madame  De  Vrees  is  their  daughter.  Now 
you  will  see  great  changes  take  place." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  John  ?  " 

"  Madame  De  Vrees  has  long  wanted  to  build  a 
mansion  equal  to  their  wealth,  but  the  Councillor 
would  never  leave  the  house  he  built  at  their  mar 
riage.  Madame  will  now  build,  and  her  children 
take  their  places  among  the  great  ones  of  the  city. 
De  Vrees  was  an  oddity ;  very  few  people  will  be 
sorry  to  lose  him.  He  had  no  good  quality  but 
money,  and  he  was  the  most  unhappy  of  men 
about  its  future  disposal.  I  never  understood  un 
til  I  knew  him,  how  wretched  a  thing  it  is  to  be 
merely  rich." 

This  conversation  again  put  off  Cornelia's  visit, 
and  she  virtually  abandoned  the  idea.  Then  one 
morning  Mrs.  Moran  said,  "  Cornelia,  I  wish  you 
to  go  to  William  Irvin's  for  some  hosiery  and 
Kendal  cottons.  It  is  a  new  store  down  the  Lane 
at  number  ninety,  and  I  hear  his  cloths  are  strangely 
cheap.  Go  and  examine  them  for  me." 

"  Very  well,   mother.     I    will    also   look    in    at 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    255 

Fisher's; "  and  it  was  at  Fisher's  that  she  saw  Ma 
dame  Van  Heemskirk.  She  was  talking  to  Mr. 
Henry  Fisher  as  they  advanced  from  the  back  of 
the  store,  and  Cornelia  had  time  to  observe  that 
madame  was  in  deep  mourning,  and  that  she  had 
grown  older  looking  since  she  had  last  seen  her. 
As  they  came  forward  madame  raised  her  eyes  and 
saw  Cornelia,  and  then  hastily  leaving  the  mer 
chant,  she  approached  her. 

u  Good-morning,  madame,"  said  Cornelia,  with 
a  cheerful  smile. 

"Good-morning,  miss.  Step  aside  once  with 
me.  A  few  words  I  have  to  say  to  you ;  "  and  as 
she  spoke  she  drew  Cornelia  a  little  apart  from  the 
crowd  at  the  counter,  and  looking  at  her  sternly, 
said  — 

"One  question  only — why  then  did  you  treat 
my  grandson  so  badly  ?  A  shameful  thing  it  is  to 
be  a  flirt." 

"  I  am  not  a  flirt,  madame.  And  I  did  not  treat 
your  grandson  badly.  No,  indeed  !  " 

"Yes,  indeed  !     He  told  me  so  himself." 

"  He  told  you  so  ?  " 

"  He  told  me  so.     Surely  he  did." 

"  That  I  treated  him  badly  ?  " 

"  Pray  then  what  else  ?  You  let  a  young  man 
love  you — you  let  him  tell  you  so — you  tell  him 
'yes,  I  love  you'  and  then  when  he  says  marry 
me,  you  say,  '  no/  Such  ways  I  call  bad,  very 


256       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

bad  !  Not  worthy  of  my  Joris  are  you,  and  so 
then,  I  am  glad  you  said  '  no.' ' 

"  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"  Neither  did  you  understand  my  Joris — a  great 
mistake  he  made — and  he  did  not  understand  you ; 
and  I  do  not  understand  such  ways  of  the  girls  of 
this  day.  They  are  shameless,  and  I  am  ashamed 
for  you." 

"  Madame,  you  are  very  rude." 

"  And  very  false  are  you." 

"  I  am  not  false." 

"  My  Joris  told  me  so.  Truth  itself  is  Joris. 
He  would  not  lie.  He  would  not  deceive." 

"If  your  grandson  told  you  I  had  deceived  him, 
and  refused  to  marry  him, — let  it  be  so.  I  have  no 
wish  to  contradict  your  grandson." 

"That  you  cannot  do.     I  am  ashamed " 

"  Madame,  I  wish  you  good  morning ; "  and 
with  these  words  Cornelia  left  the  store.  Her 
cheeks  were  burning;  the  old  lady's  angry  voice 
was  in  her  ears,  she  felt  the  eyes  of  every  one  in 
the  store  upon  her,  and  she  was  indignant  and 
mortified  at  a  meeting  so  inopportune.  Her  heart 
had  also  received  a  new  stab ;  and  she  had  not  at 
the  moment  any  philosophy  to  meet  it.  Joris  had 
evidently  told  his  grandmother  exactly  what  the 
old  lady  affirmed.  She  had  not  a  doubt  of  that,  but 
why  ?  Why  had  he  lied  about  her  ?  Was  there 
no  other  way  out  of  his  entanglement  with  her  ? 
She  walked  home  in  a  hurry,  and  as  soon  as  pos- 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    257 

sible  shut  herself  in  her  room  to  consider  this  fresh 
wrong  and  injustice. 

She  could  arrive  at  only  one  conclusion — 
Annie's  most  unexpected  appearance  had  happened 
immediately  after  his  proposal  to  herself.  He  was 
pressed  for  time,  his  grandparents  would  be  es 
pecially  likely  to  embarrass  him  concerning  her 
claims,  and  of  course  the  quickest  and  surest  way 
to  prevent  questioning  on  the  matter,  was  to  tell 
them  that  she  had  refused  him.  That  fact  would 
close  their  mouths  in  sympathy  for  his  disappoint 
ment,  and  there  would  be  no  further  circumstances 
to  clear  up.  It  was  the  only  explanation  of 
madame's  attitude  that  was  possible,  and  she  was 
compelled  to  accept  it,  much  as  it  humiliated  her. 
And  then  after  it  had  been  accepted  and  sorrowed 
over,  there  came  back  to  her  those  deeper  as 
surances,  those  soul  assertions,  which  she  could 
not  either  examine  or  define,  but  which  she  felt 

compelled  to  receive He  loves  me  !  I  feel  it ! 

It  is  not  his  fault !  I  must  not  think  wrong  of 
him. 

There  was  still  Madame  Jacobus  to  hope  for. 
She  was  so  shrewd  and  so  kindly,  that  Cornelia  felt 
certain  of  her  sympathy  and  wise  advice.  But 
month  after  month  passed  away  and  madame's 
house  remained  empty  and  forlorn-looking.  Now 
and  then  there  came  short  fateful  letters  from 
Arenta,  and  Van  Ariens — utterly  miserable — visited 
them  frequently  that  he  might  be  comforted  with 


258       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

their  assurances  of  his  child's  ability  to  manage  the 
very  worst  circumstances  in  which  she  could  be 
placed. 

And  so  the  long  summer  days  passed  and  the 
winter  approached  again ;  but  before  that  time 
Cornelia  had  at  least  attained  to  the  wisest  of  all 
the  virtues — that  calm,  hushed  contentment,  which 
is  only  another  name  for  happiness — that  content 
ment  which  accepts  the  fact  that  there  is  a  chain 
of  causes  linked  to  effects  by  an  invincible  ne 
cessity  ;  and  that  whatever  is,  could  not  have 
wisely  been  but  so.  And  if  this  was  fatalism,  it 
was  at  least  a  brighter  thing  than  the  languid  pes 
simism,  which  would  have  led  her  life  among 
quicksands,  to  end  it  in  wreck. 

One  day  at  the  close  of  October  she  put  down 
her  needlework  with  a  little  impatience.  "  I  am 
tired  of  sewing,  mother,'*  she  said,  "  and  I  will 
walk  down  to  the  Battery  and  get  a  breath  of  the 
sea.  I  shall  not  stay  long." 

On  her  way  to  the  Battery  she  was  thinking  of 
Hyde,  and  of  their  frequent  walks  together  there ; 
and  for  once  she  passed  the  house  of  Madame 
Jacobus  without  a  glance  at  its  long-closed 
windows.  It  was  growing  dark  as  she  returned, 
and  ere  she  quite  reached  it  she  was  aware  of  a 
glow  of  fire  light  and  candle  light  from  the 
windows.  She  quickened  her  steps,  and  saw  a 
servant  well  known  to  her  standing  at  the  open 
door  directing  two  men  who  were  carrying  in 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    259 

trunks  and  packages.  She  immediately  accosted 
him. 

"  Has  madame  returned  at  last,  Ameer  ?  "  she 
asked  joyfully. 

"  Madame  has  returned  home,"  he  answered. 
"  She  is  weary — she  is  not  alone — she  will  not  re 
ceive  to-night." 

u  Surely  not.  I  did  not  think  of  such  a  thing. 
Tell  her  only  that  I  am  glad,  and  will  call  as  soon 
as  she  can  see  me." 

The  man's  manner — usually  so  friendly — was 
shy  and  peculiar,  and  Cornelia  felt  saddened  and 
disappointed.  "  And  yet  why  ?  "  she  asked  her 
self.  "  Madame  has  but  reached  home — I  did  not 
wish  to  intrude  upon  her — Ameer  need  not  have 
thought  so — however  I  am  glad  she  is  back  again  " 
— and  she  walked  rapidly  home  to  the  thoughts 
which  this  unexpected  arrival  induced.  They 
were  hopeful  thoughts,  leaning — however  she  di 
rected  them — towards  her  absent  lover.  She  felt 
sure  madame  would  see  clearly  to  the  very  bottom 
of  what  she  could  not  understand.  She  went  into 
her  mother's  presence  full  of  renewed  expecta 
tions,  and  met  her  smile  with  one  of  unusual  bright 
ness. 

"  Madame  Jacobus  is  at  home,"  said  Mrs. 
Moran,  before  Cornelia  could  speak.  "  She  sent 
for  your  father  just  after  you  left  the  house,  and  I 
suppose  that  he  is  still  there." 

"  Is  she  sick  ?  " 


260       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

u  I  do  not  know.  I  fear  so,  for  the  visit  is  a 
long  one." 

It  continued  so  much  longer  that  the  two 
ladies  took  their  tea  alone,  nor  could  they  talk  of 
any  other  subject  than  madame,  and  her  most  un 
expected  call  for  Doctor  Moran's  services.  "  It 
was  always  the  Dutch  Doctor  Gansvoort  she  had 
before,"  said  Mrs.  Moran;  "and  she  was  ever 
ready  to  scoff  at  all  others,  as  pretenders. — I  do 
wonder  what  keeps  your  father  so  long  ?  " 

It  was  near  ten  o'clock  when  Doctor  Moran 
returned,  and  his  face  was  sombre  and  thoughtful 
— the  face  of  a  man  who  had  been  listening  for 
hours  to  grave  matters,  and  who  had  not  been  able 
to  throw  off  their  physical  reflection. 

"  Have  you  had  tea,  John  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Moran. 

"  No.  Give  me  a  good  strong  cup,  Ava.  I  am 
tired  with  listening  and  feeling." 

She  poured  it  out  quickly,  and  after  he  had  taken 
the  refreshing  drink,  Cornelia  asked  — 

"  Is  madame  very  ill  ?  " 

"  She  is  wonderfully  well.     It  is  her  husband." 

"  Captain  Jacobus  ?  " 

"  Who  else  ?  She  has  brought  him  home,  and  I 
doubt  if  she  has  done  wisely." 

"  What  has  happened,  John  ?  Surely  you  will 
tell  us  !  " 

u  There  is  nothing  to  conceal.  I  have  heard  the 
whole  story — a  very  pitiful  story — but  yet  like 
enough  to  end  well.  Madame  told  me  that  the  day  af- 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    261 

ter  her  sister-in-law's  burial,  James  Lauder,  a  Scotch 
man  who  had  often  sailed  with  Captain  Jacobus, 
came  down  to  Charleston  to  see  her.  He  had 
sought  her  in  New  York,  and  been  directed  by  her 
lawyer  to  Charleston.  He  declared  that  having 
had  occasion  to  go  to  Guy's  Hospital  in  London 
to  visit  a  sick  comrade,  he  saw  there  Captain  Jaco 
bus.  He  would  not  admit  any  doubt  of  his  iden 
tity,  but  said  the  Captain  had  forgotten  his  name, 
and  everything  in  connection  with  his  past  life ; 
and  was  hanging  about  the  premises  by  favour  of  the 
physicians,  holding  their  horses,  and  doing  various 
little  services  for  them." 

"  Oh  how  well  I  can  imagine  madame's  hurry 
and  distress,"  said  Cornelia. 

"  She  hardly  knew  how  to  reach  London  quickly 
enough.  She  said  thought  would  have  been  too 
slow  for  her.  But  Lauder's  tale  proved  to  be  true. 
Her  first  action  was  to  take  possession  of  the  de 
mented  man,  and  surround  him  with  every  comfort. 
He  appeared  quite  indifferent  to  her  care,  and  she 
obtained  no  shadow  of  recognition  from  him.  She 
then  brought  to  his  case  all  the  medical  skill  money 
could  procure,  and  in  the  consultation  which  fol 
lowed,  the  physicians  decided  to  perform  the  opera 
tion  of  trepanning." 

"  But  why  ?     Had  he  been  injured,  John  ?  " 

"Very  badly.  The  hospital  books  showed  that 
he  had  been  brought  there  by  two  sailors,  who  said 
he  had  been  struck  in  a  gale  by  a  falling  mast. 


262       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

The  wound  healed,  but  left  him  mentally  a  wreck. 
The  physicians  decided  that  the  brain  was  suffering 
from  pressure,  and  that  trepanning  would  relieve, 
if  it  did  not  cure." 

u  Then  why  was  it  not  done  at  first  ?  " 
"  Whose  interest  was  it  to  inquire  ?  No  money 
was  left  with  the  injured  man.  The  sailors  who 
took  him  to  the  hospital  gave  false  names,  and  ad 
dress,  and  he  received  only  such  treatment  as  a 
pauper  patient  was  likely  to  receive.  But  he  made 
friends,  and  was  supported  about  the  place. 
Imagine  now  what  a  trial  was  before  madame  ! 
It  was  a  difficult  matter  to  perform  the  operation, 
for  the  patient  could  not  be  made  to  understand  its 
necessity  ;  and  he  was  very  hard  to  manage.  Then 
picture  to  yourselves,  the  terrible  strain  of  nursing 
which  followed;  though  madame  says  it  was  soon 
brightened  and  lightened  by  her  husband's  recogni 
tion  of  her.  After  that  event  all  weariness  was 
rest,  and  suffering  ease  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  was  able 
to  travel  both  were  determined  to  return  at  once  to 
their  own  home.  He  is  yet  however  a  sick  man,  and 
may  never  quite  recover  a  slight  paralysis  of  the 
lower  limbs." 

"  Does  he  remember  how  he  was  hurt  ?  " 
"  He  declares  his  men  mutinied,  because  instead 
of  returning  to  New  York,  he  had  taken  on  a  cargo 
for  the  East  India  Company ;  and  that  the  blow 
was  given  him  either  by  his  first,  or  second  mate. 
He  thinks  they  sailed  his  ship  out  of  the  Thames, 


Done   With  Tears  and  Treasons    263 

for  her  papers  were  all  made  out,  and  she  was 
ready  to  drop  down  the  river  with  the  next  tide. 
He  vows  he  will  get  well  and  find  his  ship  and  the 
rascals  that  stole  her ;  and  I  should  not  wonder  if 
he  does.  He  has  will  enough  for  anything. 
Madame  desires  to  see  you,  Cornelia.  Can  you 
go  there  with  me  in  the  morning  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  go.  Madame  is  like  no  one 
else." 

"  She  is  not  like  herself  at  present.  I  think  you 
may  be  a  little  disappointed  in  her.  She  has  but 
one  thought,  one  care,  one  end  and  aim  in  life — 
her  husband." 

The  Doctor  had  judged  correctly.  Cornelia  was 
disappointed  from  the  first  moment.  She  was  taken 
to  the  dim  uncanny  drawing-room  by  Ameer,  and 
left  among  its  ill-omened  gods,  and  odd  treasure- 
trove  for  nearly  half  an  hour  before  madame  came 
to  her.  The  rudely  graven  faces,  so  marvellously 
instinct  with  life,  made  her  miserable ;  she  fancied 
a  thousand  mockeries  and  scorns  in  them ;  and  no 
thought  of  Hyde,  or  Arenta,  or  of  the  happy  hours 
spent  in  that  ill-boding  room,  could  charm  away 
its  sinister  influence. 

When  madame  at  length  came  to  her,  she  ap 
peared  like  the  very  genius  of  the  place.  The  ex 
periences  of  the  past  year  had  left  traces  which  no 
after  experience  would  be  able  to  obliterate.  She 
looked  ten  years  older.  Her  wonderful  dark  eyes, 
glowing  with  a  soft  tender  fire  alone  remained  un- 


264       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

touched  by  the  withering  hand  of  anxious  love. 
They  were  as  vital  as  ever  they  had  been,  and 
when  Cornelia  said  so,  she  answered,  u  That  is  be 
cause  my  soul  dwells  in  them,  and  my  soul  is  al 
ways  young.  I  have  had  a  year,  Cornelia,  to 
crumble  the  body  to  dust ;  but  my  soul  made  light 
of  it  for  love's  sake.  Did  your  father  tell  you  how 
much  Captain  Jacobus  had  suffered  ?  " 

"  Yes,  madame." 

But  in  spite  of  this  assurance,  madame  went 
over  the  whole  story  in  detail,  and  Cornelia  could 
not  help  but  remember  that  Mr.  Van  Ariens  had 
said  "  about  her  husband  she  will  talk  constantly, 
and  to  the  whole  town."  For  however  far  the 
conversation  diverged  for  a  moment,  madame  al 
ways  brought  it  sharply  back  to  the  one  subject 
that  interested  her.  Even  Arenta's  peculiarly  dan 
gerous  position  could  not  detain  her  thoughts  and 
interest  for  many  minutes. 

"  I  am  sorry  for  Arenta,"  she  said  ;  "  no  greater 
hell  can  there  be,  than  to  live  in  constant  fear.  But 
she  has  the  gift  of  a  clever  tongue,  and  every  one 
has  not  the  like  talent ;  and  also  if  a  woman  with 
the  decency  of  her  sex  may  be  a  scholar,  Arenta 
has  learning  enough  to  compass  the  fools  who 
might  injure  her." 

"  Marat  and  Robespierre  are  both  against  her 
husband,  and  she  may  share  his  fate." 

"Marat  and  Robespierre!"  she  cried.  "Both 
of  the  creatures  have  a  devil.  I  wish  them  to  go 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    265 

to  the  guillotine  together,  and  I  would  bury  them 
together  with  their  faces  downwards.  Let  them 
pass  out  of  your  memory.  Poor  Jacobus  was  in  a 
worse  case  than  Arenta.  Till  I  be  key-cold  dead, 
I  shall  never  forget  my  first  sight  of  him  in  that 
dreadful  place  — "  and  then  she  described  again  her 
overwhelming  emotions  when  she  perceived  he 
was  alike  apathetic  to  his  pauper  condition,  and  to 
her  love  and  presence.  There  never  came  a  mo 
ment  during  the  whole  visit  when  it  was  possible  to 
speak  of  Hyde.  Madame  seemed  to  have  quite 
forgotten  her  liking  for  the  handsome  youth  ;  it  had 
been  swallowed  up  in  her  adoring  affection  for  her 
restored  husband. 

Cornelia  would  not  force  the  memory  upon  her. 
Some  day  she  might  remember ;  but  for  a  little 
while  madame  had  more  than  enough  of  fresh  ma 
terial  for  her  conversation.  Every  one  who  had 
known  Captain  Jacobus  or  herself,  called  with  con 
gratulations  for  their  happy  return ;  and  when  Cor 
nelia  made  a  nearly  daily  visit  with  her  father, 
madame  had  these  calls  to  talk  over  with  her. 

One  morning,  however,  the  long-looked-for  topic 
was  introduced.  "  I  had  a  visit  from  Madame 
Van  Heemskirk  yesterday  afternoon,"  she  said ; 
u  and  the  dear  old  Senator  came  with  her  to  see 
Captain  Jacobus.  While  they  talked,  madame  told 
me  that  you  had  refused  that  handsome  young  fel 
low,  her  grandson.  What  could  you  mean  by  such 
a  stupidity,  Miss  Moran  ?  " 


266       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Her  voice  had  just  that  tone  of  indifference, 
mingled  with  sarcastic  disapproval,  that  hurt  and 
offended  Cornelia.  She  felt  that  it  was  not  worth 
while  to  explain  herself,  for  madame  had  evidently 
accepted  the  offended  grandmother's  opinion ;  and 
the  memory  of  the  young  Lord  was  lively  enough 
to  make  her  sympathize  with  his  supposed  wrong. 

"  I  never  considered  you  to  be  a  flirt,"  she  con 
tinued,  "  and  I  am  astonished.  If,  now,  it  had 
been  Arenta,  I  could  have  understood  it.  I  told 
Madame  Van  Heemskirk  that  I  had  not  the  least 
doubt  Doctor  Moran  dictated  the  refusal." 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  answered  Cornelia,  with  a  good 
deal  of  spirit  and  some  anger,  "  you  shall  not  blame 
my  father.  He  knew  nothing  whatever  of  Lord 
Hyde's  offer,  until  I  had  been  subjected  to  such  in 
sult  and  wrong  as  drove  me  to  the  grave's  mouth. 
Only  the  mercy  of  God,  and  my  father's  skill, 
brought  me  back  to  life." 

"  Yes,  I  think  your  father  to  be  wonderfully 
skilful.  He  has  done  Jacobus  a  great  deal  of  good, 
and  he  now  gives  him  hope  of  a  perfect  recovery. 
Doctor  Moran  is  a  fine  physician  ;  Jacobus  says  so." 

Cornelia  remained  silent.  If  madame  did  not 
feel  interest  sufficient  in  her  affairs  to  ask  for  the 
particulars  of  one  so  nearly  fatal  to  her,  she  deter 
mined  not  to  force  the  subject  on  her.  Then  Ja 
cobus  rang  his  bell,  and  madame  flew  to  his  room 
to  see  whether  his  want  had  received  proper  atten 
tion.  Cornelia  sat  still  a  few  moments,  her  heart 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    267 

swelling,  her  eyes  filling  with  the  sense  of  that  in 
justice,  harder  to  bear  than  any  other  form  of 
wrong.  She  was  going  away,  when  madame  re 
turned  to  her,  and  something  in  her  eyes  went  to 
the  heart  of  the  older  woman.  She  turned  her 
back,  with  a  kind  but  peremptory  word,  and  taking 
her  hand,  said  — 

"  I  have  been  thoughtless,  Cornelia,  selfish,  I 
dare  say ;  but  I  do  not  wish  to  be  so.  Tell  me, 
my  dear,  what  has  happened.  Did  you  quarrel 
with  George  Hyde  ?  And  pray  what  was  it  about  ?" 

"  We  never  had  one  word  of  any  kind,  but  words 
of  affection.  He  wrote  and  asked  me  if  he  could 
come  and  see  my  father  about  our  marriage,  on  a 
certain  night.  I  answered  his  letter  with  all  the 
love  that  was  in  my  heart  for  him,  and  told  him  to 
come  and  see  my  father  that  very  night.  He  never 
came.  He  never  sent  me  the  least  explanation. 
He  never  wrote  to  me,  or  spoke  to  me  again." 

u  Oh,  but  this  is  a  different  story  !  His  grand 
mother  told  me  that  you  refused  him." 

"That  is  not  the  truth.  Lady  Annie  Hyde 
came  most  unexpectedly  that  very  day,  and  I  sup 
pose  the  easiest  way  to  stop  all  inquiries  about  Miss 
Moran,  was  to  say  '  she  refused  me.'  ' 

"And  after  Lady  Annie's  arrival,  what  hap 
pened  ?  " 

"  I  was  absolutely  deserted.  That  is  the  truth. 
I  may  as  well  admit  it.  Perhaps  you  think  it  im 
possible  for  a  young  man  so  good-natured  to  behave 


268       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

in  a  manner  so  cruel  and  dishonourable ;  but  I  as 
sure  you  it  is  the  truth." 

"  My  dear,  I  have  lived  to  see  it  almost  impos 
sible  to  think  worse  of  people  than  they  are;  and 
if  you  can  bear  to  hear  more  on  this  subject,  I  will 
tell  it  to  you  myself." 

"  I  can  always  bear  the  truth.  If  I  have  lost 
my  heart,  I  have  not  lost  my  head ;  nor  will  I  sur 
render  to  useless  grief  the  happiness  which  I  can 
yet  make  for  others,  and  for  myself." 

u  If  what  you  have  told  me  be  so — and  I  believe 
it  is — then  I  say  Lord  George  Hyde  is  an  intoler 
able  scoundrel." 

"  I  would  rather  not  hear  him  spoken  of  in  that 
way." 

"  I  ask  your  pardon,  but  I  must  give  myself  a 
little  Christian  liberty  of  railing.  The  man  is  false 
clean  through.  He  was  evidently  engaged  to  Lady 
Annie  when  he  first  sought  your  love,  and  there 
fore  as  soon  as  she  came  here,  he  deserted  you.  I 
will  tell  you  plainly  that  I  saw  him  last  summer 
very  frequently,  and  he  was  always  with  her — al 
ways  listening  with  ears  and  heart  to  what  she  said 
— always  watching  her  with  all  his  soul  in  his  eyes 
— ever  on  the  lookout  to  see  that  not  a  breath  of 
wind  ruffled  her  soft  wraps,  or  blew  too  strongly  on 
her  little  white  face." 

u  That  was  his  way,  madame.  I  have  seen  him 
devoting  himself  to  you  in  the  same  manner;  yes, 
and  to  Madame  Griffin,  and  Miss  White,  and  a 


Done  With  Tears  and  Treasons    269 

score  of  other  ladies — old  and  young.  You  know 
how  good-natured  he  was.  When  did  you  hear 
him  say  a  wrong  word  of  any  one  ?  even  of  Rem 
Van  Ariens  who  was  often  intolerably  rude." 

41  Very  well !  I  would  rather  have  a  man  '  in 
tolerably  rude '  like  my  nephew  Rem,  than  one 
like  Lord  Hyde  who  speaks  well  of  everybody. 
Upon  my  word,  I  think  that  is  the  worst  kind  of 
slander!" 

u  I  think  not." 

"  It  is ;  for  it  takes  away  the  reputation  of  good 
men,  by  making  all  men  alike.  But  this,  that,  or 
the  other,  I  saw  Lord  Hyde  in  devoted  attendance 
on  Lady  Annie.  Give  him  up  totally.  He  is  in 
his  kingdom  when  he  has  a  pretty  woman  to  make 
a  fool  of.  As  for  marriage,  these  young  men  who 
have  the  world,  or  the  better  part  of  it,  they  marry 
where  Cupidity,  not  Cupid  leads  them.  Give  him 
up  entirely." 

"  I  have  done  so,"  answered  Cornelia.  And 
then  she  felt  a  sudden  anger  at  herself,  so  much 
so,  that  as  she  walked  home,  she  kept  assuring  her 
heart  with  an  almost  passionate  insistence,  u  I  have 
not  given  him  up  !  I  will  not  give  him  up  !  I 
believe  in  him  yet." 

Madame's  advice  might  be  wise,  but  there  are 
counsels  of  perfection  that  cannot  be  followed ; 
because  they  are  utterly  at  variance  with  that  in 
tuitive  knowledge,  which  the  soul  has  of  old  ;  and 
which  it  will  not  surrender;  and  whose  wisdom  it 


270       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

is  interiorly  sure  of.  And  after  this  confidence 
Cornelia  did  not  go  so  often  to  madame's.  Some 
thing  jarred  between  them.  We  know  that  a  sin 
gle  drop  taken  from  a  glass  of  water  changes  the 
water  level  swift  as  thought,  and  the  same  law  is 
certain  in  all  human  relations.  Madame  was  not 
quite  the  same ;  something  had  been  taken  away ; 
the  level  of  their  friendship  was  changed  ;  and  when 
Doctor  Moran  could  not  but  perceive  this  fact,  he 
said  — 

"  Go  less  frequently  to  madame's,  Cornelia. 
You  do  not  enjoy  your  visits ;  dissolve  a  friendship 
that  begins  to  be  incomplete.  It  is  the  best  plan." 


CHAPTER  XII 

A    HEART    THAT    WAITS 

LATE  summer  on  the  Norfolk  Broads !  And 
where  on  earth  can  the  lover  of  boats  find  a  more 
charming  resort  ?  How  alluring  are  the  mysterious 
entrances  to  these  Broads !  where  a  boat  seems  to 
make  an  insane  dive  into  a  hopeless  cul  de  sac  of  a 
ditch,  and  then  suddenly  emerges  on  a  wide  ex 
panse  of  water,  teeming  with  pike  and  bream  and 
eels ;  and  fringed  with  a  border  of  plashy  ground, 
full  of  reeds  and  willows  and  flowering  flags ;  and 
alive  with  water  fowl. 

Now  close  to  the  Manor  of  Hyde,  the  country 
home  of  Earl  Hyde  in  Norfolk,  there  was  one  of 
these  delightful  Broads — flat  as  a  billiard  table,  and 
hidden  by  the  tall  reeds  which  bordered  it.  But 
Annie  Hyde  lying  at  the  open  window  of  her  room 
in  the  Manor  House  could  see  its  silvery  waters, 
and  the  black-sailed  wherry  floating  on  them,  and 
the  young  man  sitting  at  the  prow  fishing,  and 
idling,  among  the  lilies  and  languors  of  these  hot 
summer  days.  Her  hands  were  folded,  her  lips 
moved,  she  was  asking  of  some  intelligence  among 
the  angels,  grace  and  favour  for  one  who  was  dearer 
to  her  than  her  own  life  or  happiness. 

An  aged  man  sat  silently  by  her,  a  man  of  noble 
271 


272       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

beauty,  whose  soul  was  in  every  part  of  his  body, 
expressive  and  impressive — a  fiery  particle  not  al 
ways  at  its  window,  but  when  there,  infecting  and 
going  through  observers,  whether  they  would  or 
not.  He  was  dressed  altogether  in  black,  and 
had  fine  small  hands,  a  thin  austere  face  and  clean 
sensitive  lips  which  seemed  to  say,  u  He  hath  made 
us  kings  and  priests  " — a  man  of  celestial  race, 
valuing  things  at  their  eternal,  not  at  their  temporal 
worth. 

There  had  been  silence  for  some  time  between 
them,  and  he  did  not  appear  disposed  to  break  it ; 
but  Annie  longed  for  him  to  do  so,  because  she 
had  a  mystical  appetite  for  sacred  things,  and  was 
never  so  happy  and  so  much  at  rest  as  when  he 
was  talking  to  her  of  them.  For  she  loved  God, 
and  had  been  led  to  the  love  of  God  by  a  kind  of 
thirst  for  God. 

"  Dear  father,"  she  said  finally,  "  I  have  been 
thinking  of  the  past  years,  in  which  you  have 
taught  me  so  much." 

"  It  is  better  to  look  forward,  Annie,"  he  an 
swered.  "  The  traveller  to  Eternity  must  not  con 
tinually  turn  back  to  count  his  steps ;  for  if  God 
be  leading  him,  no  matter  how  dangerous  or  lonely 
the  road,  '  He  will  pluck  thy  feet  out  of  the  net.'  " 

"  Even  in  the  valley  of  death  ?  " 

" c  Be  not  afraid !  Nothing  of  thee  will  die  !  ' 
Take  these  sweet  compassionate  words  of  Jesus, 
as  He  wept  by  the  dying  bed  of  Joseph,  His  father, 


A  Heart  That  Waits  273 

into  thy  heart.  Blessed  are  the  homesick,  Annie  ! 
for  they  shall  get  home." 

"All  my  life  I  have  loved  God,  and  His  love 
has  been  over  me." 

"  Date  not  God's  love  from  thy  nativity ;  look 
far,  far  back  of  it — to  the  everlasting  love." 

"  After  death,  I  shall  know." 

"  Death  !  "  he  repeated,  "  Death  that  deceitful 
word.  What  is  it  ?  A  dream,  that  wakes  us  at 
the  end  of  the  night.  This  is  the  great  saying 
that  men  forget — Death  is  Life !  " 

"  Yet  life  ceases." 

u  It  does  not,  Annie.  Death,  is  like  the  setting 
of  the  sun.  The  sun  never  sets;  life  never 
ceases.  Certain  phenomena  occur  which  deceive 
us,  because  human  vision  is  so  feeble — we  think 
the  sun  sets,  and  it  never  ceases  shining ;  we  think 
our  friends  die,  and  they  never  cease  living." 

As  he  spoke  these  words  Mary  Damer  entered, 
and  she  laid  her  hand  .on  his  shoulder  and  said, 
"  My  dear  Doctor  Roslyn,  after  death  what  then  ? 
we  are  not  all  good — what  then  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her  wistfully  and  answered,  "  I  will 
give  you  one  thought,  Mary,  to  ponder — the  bless 
edness  of  heaven,  is  it  not  an  eternity  older  than 
the  misery  of  hell  ?  Let  your  soul  fearlessly  fol 
low  where  this  fact  leads  it ;  for  there  is  no  limit  to 
God's  mercy.  Do  you  think  it  is  His  way  to 
worry  a  wandering  sheep  eternally  ?  Jesus  Christ 
thought  better  of  His  father.  He  told  us  that  the 


274       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Great  Shepherd  of  souls  followed  such  sheep  into 
the  wilderness,  and  brought  them  home  in  His  arms, 
or  on  His  shoulder,  and  then  called  on  the  angels 
of  heaven  to  rejoice  because  they  were  found 
Find  out  what  that  parable  means,  Mary.  He 
whose  name  is  4  Love '  can  teach  you.'* 

Then  he  rose  and  went  away,  and  Mary  sat  down 
in  his  place,  and  Annie  gradually  came  back  to  the 
material  plane  of  everyday  life  and  duty.  Indeed 
Mary  brought  this  element  in  a  very  decided  form 
with  her ;  for  she  had  a  letter  in  her  hand  from  an 
old  lover,  and  she  was  much  excited  by  its  advent, 
and  eager  to  discuss  the  particulars  with  Annie. 

u  It  is  from  Captain  Seabright,  who  is  now  in 
Pondicherry,"  she  explained.  u  He  loves  me, 
Annie.  He  loved  me  long  ago,  and  went  to  India 
to  make  money  ;  now  he  says  he  has  enough  and 
to  spare ;  and  he  asks  me  if  I  have  forgotten." 

"  There  is  Mr.  Van  Ariens  to  consider.  You 
have  promised  to  marry  him,  Mary.  It  is  not 
hard  to  find  the  right  way  on  this  road,  I  think." 

"  Of  course.  I  would  scorn  to  do  a  dishonour 
able  or  unhandsome  thing.  But  is  it  not  very 
strange  Willie  Seabright  should  write  to  me  at  this 
time  ?  How  contradictory  life  is  !  I  had  also  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Van  Ariens  by  the  same  mail,  and 
I  shall  answer  them  both  this  evening."  Then 
she  laughed  a  little,  and  added,  "  I  must  take  care 
and  not  make  the  mistake  an  American  girl  made, 
under  much  the  same  circumstances." 


A  Heart  That  Waits  275 

"What  was  it?"  inquired  Annie  languidly. 

"  She  misdirected  her  letters  and  thus  sent  '  No ' 
to  the  man  whom  of  all  others,  she  wished  to  marry." 

As  Mary  spoke  a  soft  brightness  seemed  to  per 
vade  Annie's  brain  cells,  and  she  could  hardly  re 
strain  the  exclamation  of  sudden  enlightenment 
that  rose  to  her  lips.  She  raised  herself  slightly, 
and  in  so  doing,  her  eyes  fell  upon  the  tall  figure 
of  Hyde  standing  clearly  out  in  the  intense,  white 
sunshine  of  the  Broads ;  and  perhaps  her  soul  may 
have  whispered  to  his  soul,  for  he  turned  his  face 
to  the  house,  and  lifted  the  little  red  fishing  cap 
from  his  head.  The  action  stimulated  to  the  ut 
most  Annie's  intuitive  powers. 

"  Mary,"  she  said,  "  what  a  strange  incident ! 
Did  you  know  the  girl  ?  " 

"I  saw  her  once  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Van 
Ariens  told  me  about  her.  She  is  the  friend  of  his 
sister  the  Marquise  de  Tounnerre." 

u  How  did  Mr.  Van  Ariens  know  of  such  an 
event?" 

u  I  suppose  the  Marquise  told  him  of  it." 

"  I  am  interested.  Is  she  pretty  ?  Who,  and 
what  is  her  father  ?  Did  she  lose  her  lover  through 
the  mistake  ? " 

"  You  are  more  interested  in  this  American  girl, 
than  in  me.  I  think  you  might  ask  a  little  con 
cerning  my  love  affair  with  Captain  Seabright." 

"  I  always  ask  you  about  Mr.  Van  Ariens.  A 
girl  cannot  have  two  lovers." 


276       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

41  But  if  one  is  gone  away  ? " 

"  Then  he  has  gone  away ;  and  that  is  the  end 
of  him.  He  must  not  trouble  the  one  who  has 
come  to  stay,  eh,  Mary  ?  " 

"You  are  right,  Annie.  But  one's  first  lover 
has  always  a  charm  above  reason  ;  and  Willie  Sea- 
bright  was  once  very  dear  to  me." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that  unfortunate  American 
girl." 

"  So  am  I.  She  is  a  great  beauty.  Her  name 
is  Cornelia  Moran;  and  her  father  is  a  famous 
physician  in  New  York." 

"  And  this  beauty  had  two  lovers  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  an  Englishman  of  noble  birth ;  and  an 
American.  They  both  loved  her,  and  she  loved 
the  Englishman.  They  must  have  both  asked  her 
hand  on  the  same  day,  and  she  must  have  answered 
both  letters  in  the  same  hour ;  and  the  letter  she 
intended  for  the  man  she  loved,  went  to  the  man 
she  did  not  love.  Presumably,  the  man  she  loved 
got  the  refusal  she  intended  for  the  other,  for  he 
never  sought  her  society  again ;  and  Mr.  Van 
Ariens  told  me  she  nearly  died  in  consequence.  I 
know  not  as  to  this  part  of  the  story ;  when  I  saw 
her  in  Philadelphia,  she  had  no  more  of  fragility 
than  gave  delicacy  to  all  her  charms." 

"  And  what  became  of  the  two  lovers,  Mary  ?  " 

"  The  Englishman  went  back  to  England  ;  and 
the  American  found  another  girl  more  kind  to 
him." 


A  Heart  That  Waits  277 

UI  wonder  what  made  Mr.  Van  Ariens  tell  you 
this  story  ? " 

"  He  talked  much  of  his  sister,  and  this  young 
lady  was  her  chief  friend  and  confidante." 

"  When  did  it  happen  ?  " 

u  A  few  days  after  his  sister's  marriage.'* 

"  Then  the  Marquise  could  not  know  of  it ;  and 
so  she  could  not  have  told  her  brother.  However 
in  the  world  could  he  have  found  out  the  mistake  ? 
Do  you  think  the  girl  herself  found  it  out  ?  " 

"  That  is  inconceivable,"  answered  Mary. 
"  She  would  have  written  to  her  lover  and  ex 
plained  the  affair." 

"  Certainly.  It  is  a  very  singular  incident.  I 
want  to  think  it  over — how — did — Mr.  Van 
Ariens — find — it — out,  I  wonder !  " 

u  Perhaps  the  rejected  lover  confided  in  him." 

"  But  why  did  not  the  rejected  lover  send  the 
letter  he  received — and  which  he  must  have  known 
he  had  no  right  to  retain — to  Miss  Moran,  or  to 
the  Englishman  for  whom  it  was  intended  ?  A 
man  who  could  keep  a  letter  like  that,  must  have 
some  envious  sneaking  devil  in  his  body.  A  bad 
man,  Mary,  a  bad  man — the  air  must  be  unclean 
in  any  room  he  comes  into." 

"  Why  Annie  !  How  angry  you  are.  Let  us 
drop  the  subject.  I  really  do  want  to  tell  you 
something  about  Willie  Seabright." 

"  What  did  Mr.  Van  Ariens  say  about  the  mat 
ter  ?  What  did  he  think  ?  Why  did  he  tell  you  ?  " 


278       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  We  were  talking  of  the  Marquise.  The  story 
came  up  quite  naturally.  I  think  Mr.  Van  Ariens 
felt  very  sorry  for  Miss  Moran.  Of  course  he 
did.  Will  you  listen  to  Captain  Seabright's  letter  ? 
I  had  no  idea  it  could  affect  me  so  much." 

"  But  you  loved  him  once  ?  " 

u  Very  dearly." 

"  Well  then,  Mary,  I  think  no  one  has  a  double 
in  love  or  friendship.  If  the  loved  one  dies,  or 
goes  away,  his  place  remains  empty  forever.  We 
have  lost  feelings  that  he,  and  he  only,  could  call 
up." 

At  this  point  in  the  conversation  Hyde  entered, 
brown  and  wind-blown,  the  scent  of  the  sedgy 
water  and  the  flowery  woods  about  him. 

"  Your  servant,  ladies,"  he  said  gayly,  "  I  have 
bream  enough  for  a  dozen  families,  Mary ;  and  I 
have  sent  a  string  to  the  rectory." 

"  Poor  little  fish  !  "  answered  Annie.  "  They 
could  not  cry  out,  or  plead  with  you,  or  beg  for 
their  lives,  and  because  they  were  dumb  and 
opened  not  their  mouths,  they  were  wounded  and 
strangled  to  death." 

"  Don't  say  such  things,  Annie.  How  can  I 
enjoy  my  sport  if  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  you  ought  to  enjoy  sport  which 
is  murder.  You  have  your  wherry  to  sail,  is  not 
that  sport  enough  ?  I  have  heard  you  say  nothing 
that  floats  on  fresh  water,  can  beat  a  Norfolk 
wherry." 


A  Heart  That  Waits  279 

u  I  vow  it  is  the  truth.  With  her  fine  lines  and 
strong  sails  she  can  lie  closer  to  the  wind  than  any 
other  craft.  She  is  safe,  and  fast,  and  handy  to 
manage.  Three  feet  of  water  will  do  her,  though 
she  be  sixty  tons  burden ;  and  I  will  sail  her 
where  nothing  but  a  row  boat  can  follow  me." 

"  Is  not  that  sport  enough  ?  " 

"  I  must  have  something  to  get.  I  would  have 
brought  you  armfuls  of  flowers,  but  you  do  not  like 
me  to  cut  them." 

"  I  like  my  flowers  alive,  George.  You  must 
be  dull  indeed  if  you  make  no  difference  between 
the  scent  of  growing  flowers,  and  cut  ones.  To 
morrow  Mary  is  going  to  Ranforth,  you  must  go 
with  her,  and  you  may  bring  me  some  peaches 
from  the  Hall,  if  you  please  to  do  so." 

Then  Hyde  and  Mary  had  a  game  of  battledore, 
and  she  watched  them  tossing  the  gayly  painted 
corks,  until  amid  their  light  laughter  and  merry 
talk  she  fell  asleep.  And  when  she  awakened  it 
was  sunset,  and  there  was  no  one  in  her  room  but 
her  maid.  She  had  slept  long,  but  in  spite  of  its 
refreshment,  she  had  a  sense  of  something  uneasy. 
Then  she  recalled  the  story  Mary  Damer  had  told 
her,  and  because  she  comprehended  the  truth,  she 
was  instantly  at  rest.  The  whole  secret  was  clear 
as  daylight  to  her.  She  knew  now  every  turn  of 
an  event  so  full  of  sorrow.  She  was  positive  Rem 
Van  Ariens  was  himself  the  thief  of  her  cousin's 
love  and  happiness,  and  the  bringer  of  grief — 


280       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

almost  of  death — to  Cornelia.  All  the  facts  she 
did  not  have,  but  facts  are  little ;  intuition  is  every 
thing.  She  said  to  herself,  u  I  shall  not  be  long 
here,  and  before  I  go  away,  I  must  put  right  love's 
wrong." 

She  considered  then  what  she  ought  to  do,  and 
gradually  the  plan  that  pleased  her  best,  grew  dis 
tinctly  just,  and  even-handed  in  her  mind.  She 
would  write  to  Cornelia.  Her  word  would  be  in 
disputable.  Then  she  would  dismiss  the  subject 
from  her  conversations  with  Mary,  until  Cornelia's 
answer  arrived ;  nor  until  that  time  would  she  say 
a  word  of  her  suspicions  to  Hyde.  In  pursuance 
of  these  resolutions  the  following  letter  to  Cornelia 
left  Hyde  Manor  for  New  York  the  next  mail : 

To  Miss  CORNELIA  MORAN  : 

Because  you  are  very  dear  to  one  of  my 
dear  kindred,  and  because  I  feel  that  you  are  worthy 
of  his  great  love,  I  also  love  you.  Will  you  trust 
me  now  ?  There  has  been  a  sad  mistake.  I  be 
lieve  I  can  put  it  right.  You  must  recollect  the 
day  on  which  George  Hyde  wrote  asking  you  to  fix 
an  hour  when  he  could  call  on  Doctor  Moran 
about  your  marriage.  Did  any  other  lover  ask  you 
on  that  day  to  marry  him  ?  Was  that  other  lover 
Mr.  Van  Ariens  ?  Did  you  write  to  both  about 
the  same  time  ?  If  so,  you  misdirected  your 
letters ;  and  the  one  intended  for  Lord  Hyde  went 
to  Mr.  Van  Ariens ;  and  the  one  intended  for  Mr. 
Van  Ariens,  went  to  Lord  Hyde.  Now  you  will 
understand  many  things.  I  found  out  this  mistake 
through  the  young  lady  Mr.  Van  Ariens  is  intend- 


A  Heart  That  Waits  281 

ing  to  marry.  Can  you  send  to  me,  for  Lord 
Hyde,  a  copy  of  the  letter  you  intended  for  him. 
When  I  receive  it,  you  may  content  your  heart.  I 
may  never  see  you  again,  but  I  would  like  you  to 
remember  me  by  this  act  of  loving  kindness ;  and 
I  wish  you  all  the  joy  in  your  love,  that  I  could 
wish  myself.  The  shadows  will  soon  flee  away, 
and  when  your  wedding  bells  ring,  I  shall  know ; 
and  rejoice  with  you,  and  with  my  dear  cousin. 
Delay  not  to  answer  this,  why  should  you  delay 
your  happiness  ?  I  send  you  as  love  gifts  my 
thoughts,  desires,  prayers,  all  that  is  best  in  me,  all 
that  I  give  to  one  high  in  my  esteem,  and  whom  I 
wish  to  place  high  in  my  affection.  This  to  your 
hand  and  heart,  with  all  sincerity, 

ANNIE  HYDE. 

When  she  had  signed  her  name  she  was  full  of 
content,  her  face  was  transfigured  with  the  joy  she 
foresaw  for  others,  and  she  thought  not  of  her  own 
gain,  though  it  was  great — even  the  riches  of  that 
divine  self-culture,  that  comes  only  through  self- 
sacrifice.  She  calculated  her  letter  would  reach 
Cornelia  about  the  end  of  September,  and  she 
thought  how  pleasantly  the  hope  it  brought,  would 
brighten  her  life.  And  without  permitting  Hyde 
to  suspect  any  change  in  his  love  affair,  she  very 
often  led  the  conversation  to  Cornelia,  and  to  the 
circumstances  of  her  life.  Hyde  was  always  will 
ing  to  talk  on  this  subject,  and  thus  she  learned  so 
much  about  Arenta,  and  Madame  Jacobus,  and 
Rem  Van  Ariens,  that  the  people  became  her  famil 
iars.  Arenta  particularly  interested  her,  and  she 


282       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

spoke  and  thought  continually  of  the  gay  little 
Dutch  girl  among  the  human  tigers  of  Paris.  And 
the  thought  of  her  ended  ever  in  a  silent  prayer 
for  her  safety.  "  I  must  ask  some  strong  angel  to 
go  and  help  her,"  she  said  to  Hyde,  "  a  city  full  of 
blood,  must  be  a  city  full  of  evil  spirits,  and  she 
will  need  the  wings  of  angels  round  her — like  a 
pavilion — so  when  she  comes  into  my  mind  I  say 
*  angels  of  deliverance  go  to  her.'  And  I  think  she 
must  be  in  a  great  strait  now,  or  I  should  not  feel 
so  constrained  to  pray  for  her." 

"  And  you  believe  such  prayer  avails  for  deliver 
ance,  Annie  ? " 

"  I  am  sure  it  avails.  When  we  invoke  ear 
nestly  and  sincerely  the  help  of  any  higher  and 
stronger  intelligence  than  ourselves,  the  angels  are 
with  us.  They  come  when  the  heart  calls  them ; 
for  they  are  appointed  to  be  ministers  unto  those 
who  shall  inherit  eternal  life."  And  Hyde  listened 
silently,  yet  the  words  fell  into  his  deepest  con 
sciousness,  and  after  many  years  brought  him 
strength  and  consolation  when  he  needed  it.  Thus 
it  is,  that  a  good  woman  is  a  priestess  standing  by 
the  altar  of  the  heart,  thus  it  is,  that  the  very 
noblest  education  any  man  ever  gets  is  what  some 
woman — mother,  wife,  sister,  friend — gives  him. 

Certainly  the  letter  sent  to  Cornelia  sped  on  its 
way  all  the  more  rapidly  and  joyfully  for  the  good 
wishes  and  unselfish  prayers  accompanying  it. 
The  very  ship  might  have  known  it  was  the  bearer 


A  Heart  That  Waits  283 

of  good  tidings  ;  for  if  there  had  been  one  of  the 
mighty  angels  whose  charge  is  on  the  great  deep  at 
the  helm  of  the  Good  Intent  she  could  not  have  gone 
more  swiftly  and  surely  to  her  haven.  One  morn 
ing,  nearly  a  week  in  advance  of  Annie's  calcula 
tion,  the  wonderful  letter  was  put  into  Cornelia's 
hand.  She  was  passing  through  the  hall  on  her 
way  to  her  room,  when  Balthazar  brought  in  the 
mail,  and  she  took  the  little  white  messenger  with 
out  any  feeling  but  one  of  curiosity  concerning  it. 
The  handwriting  was  strange,  it  was  an  English 
letter,  what  could  it  mean  ? 

Let  any  one  who  has  loved  and  been  parted  from 
the  beloved  by  some  misunderstanding,  try  to  real 
ize  what  it  meant  to  Cornelia.  She  read  it  through 
in  an  indescribable  hurry  and  emotion,  and  then  in 
the  most  natural  and  womanly  way,  began  to  cry. 
No  one  could  have  loved  her  the  less  for  that  sin 
cere  overflow  of  emotions  she  could  not  separate 
or  define,  and  which  indeed  she  never  tried  to  un 
derstand.  It  was  only  one  wonderful  thought  she 
could  entertain — //  was  not  the  fault  of  yoris. 
This  was  the  assurance  that  turned  her  joyful  tears 
into  gladder  smiles,  and  that  made  her  step  light  as 
a  bird  on  the  wing,  as  she  ran  down  the  stairs  to 
find  her  mother ;  for  her  happiness  was  not  perfect 
till  she  shared  it  with  the  heart  that  had  borne  her 
sorrow,  and  carried  her  grief  through  many  weary 
months,  with  her. 

Oh,  how  glad  were  these  two  women  !     They 


284       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

were  almost  too  glad  to  speak.  Sitting  still  was 
impossible  to  Cornelia,  but  as  she  stepped  swiftly 
to-and-fro  across  the  parlour  floor,  she  stopped  fre 
quently  at  her  mother's  chair  and  kissed  her.  She 
kissed  Annie's  letter  just  as  frequently.  It  was 
such  a  gracious,  noble  letter.  It  was  such  a  de 
light  to  know  that  friendship  so  unselfish  was  wait 
ing  for  her.  It  was  altogether  such  a  marvellous 
thing  that  had  come  to  her,  that  she  could  not  be 
have  as  a  superior  woman  ought  to  have  done. 
But  then  she  was  not  a  superior  woman,  she  was 
only  lovable  and  loving,  and  therefore  restless  and 
inconsequent. 

In  the  first  hours  of  her  recovered  gladness  she 
did  not  even  remember  Rem's  great  fault,  nor  yet 
her  own  carelessness.  These  things  were  only 
accidentals,  not  worthy  to  be  taken  into  account 
while  the  great  sweet  hope  that  had  come  to  her, 
flooded  like  a  springtide  every  nook  and  corner  of 
her  heart.  In  such  a  mood  how  easy  it  was  to 
answer  Annie's  letter.  She  recollected  every  word 
she  had  written  to  Hyde  that  fateful  day,  and  she 
wrote  them  again  with  a  tenfold  joy.  She  told 
Annie  every  particular,  and  she  forgot  to  say  a 
word  of  reproach  concerning  the  dishonourable  re 
tention  of  her  letter  by  Rem.  "  It  is  altogether 
my  own  fault,"  she  confessed. 

Even  when  this  letter  was  on  its  way  to  Annie 
she  was  under  such  excitement  that  her  whole  body 
appeared  to  think  and  to  feel ;  her  beautiful  hair  had 


A  Heart  That  Waits  285 

an  unusual  freedom,  as  if  some  happy  wind  blew  it 
into  exquisite  unrestraint ;  her  eyes  shone  like  stars  ; 
her  garments  fluttered ;  her  steps  were  like  danc 
ing  ;  and  every  now  and  then,  a  bar  or  two  of  love 
music  warbled  in  her  throat.  And  oh  with  what 
joy  the  mother  watched  the  return  of  happiness  to 
her  dear  child !  With  her  own  milk  she  had  fed 
her.  In  her  own  bosoms  he  had  carried  and  tended 
her.  Night  and  day  for  nearly  twenty  years,  like 
a  bird,  she  had  feverishly,  prayfully,  tenderly  hov 
ered  over  her;  so  there  was  great  joy  in  the  Doc 
tor's  home  and  though  he  would  say  little,  his  heart 
grew  lighter  in  his  wife's  and  daughter's  cheerful 
ness  ;  for  the  women  in  any  house  make  the  moral 
and  mental  atmosphere  of  that  house  just  as  de 
cidedly,  as  the  sunshine  or  rain  affect  the  natural 
atmosphere  outside  of  it. 

Now  it  is  very  noticeable  that  when  unusual 
events  begin  to  happen  in  any  life,  there  is  a  suc 
cession  of  such  events,  and  not  unfrequently  they 
arrive  in  similar  ways.  At  any  rate  about  ten  days 
after  the  receipt  of  Annie's  letter,  Cornelia  was 
almost  equally  amazed  by  the  receipt  of  another 
letter.  It  came  one  day  about  noon,  and  a  slave 
of  Van  Ariens  brought  it — a  piece  of  paper  twisted 
carelessly  but  containing  these  few  pregnant  words  : 

Cornelia,  dear,  come  to  me.  Bring  me  some 
thing  to  wear.  I  have  just  arrived,  saved  by  the 
skin  of  my  teeth,  and  I  have  not  a  decent  garment 
of  any  kind  to  put  on.  ARENTA. 


286       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

A  thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky  could  hardly 
have  caused  such  surprise,  but  Cornelia  did  not 
wait  to  talk  about  the  wonder.  She  loaded  a  maid 
with  clothing  of  every  description,  and  ran  across 
the  street  to  her  friend.  Arenta  saw  her  coming, 
and  met  her  with  a  cry  of  joy,  and  as  Van  Ariens 
was  sick  and  trembling  with  the  sight  of  his  daugh 
ter,  and  the  tale  of  her  sufferings,  Cornelia  per 
suaded  him  to  go  to  sleep,  and  leave  Arenta  to  her 
care.  Poor  Arenta,  she  was  ill  with  the  privations 
she  had  suffered,  she  was  half-starved,  and  nearly 
without  clothing,  but  she  did  not  complain  much 
until  she  had  been  fed,  and  bathed,  and  "  dressed  " 
as  she  said  "  like  a  New  York  woman  ought  to 
be." 

"You  know  what  trunks  and  trunks  full  of 
beautiful  things  I  took  away  with  me,  Cornelia," 
she  complained ;  "  well  I  have  not  a  rag  left.  I 
have  nothing  left  at  all." 

"  Your  husband,  Arenta  ?  " 

u  He  was  guillotined." 

"  Oh,  my  dear  Arenta  !  " 

u  Guillotined.  I  told  him  to  be  quiet.  I  begged 
him  to  go  over  to  Marat,  but  no !  his  nobility 
obliged  him  to  stand  by  his  order  and  his  king.  So 
for  them,  he  died.  Poor  Athanase  !  He  expected 
me  to  follow  him,  but  I  could  not  make  up  my 
mind  to  the  knife.  Oh  how  terrible  it  was  !  " 
Then  she  began  to  sob  bitterly,  and  Cornelia  let 
her  talk  of  her  sufferings  until  she  fell  into  a  sleep 


A  Heart  That  Waits  287 

— a  sleep  easy  to  see,  still  haunted  by  the  furies 
and  terrors  through  which  she  had  passed. 

For  a  week  Cornelia  remained  with  her  friend, 
and  Madame  Jacobus  joined  them  as  often  as  pos 
sible,  and  gradually  the  half-distraught  woman  re 
covered  something  of  her  natural  spirits  and  reso 
lution.  In  this  week  she  talked  out  all  her  fright 
ful  experiences  in  the  great  prison  of  La  Force, 
and  was  completely  overwhelmed  at  their  remem 
brance.  But  the  trouble  which  has  been  removed, 
soon  grows  far  off;  and  Arenta  quickly  took  her 
place  in  her  home,  and  resumed  her  old  life.  Of 
course  with  many  differences.  She  could  not  be 
the  same  Arenta,  she  had  outlived  many  of  her 
illusions.  She  took  but  little  interest  for  a  while 
in  the  life  around  her ;  her  thoughts  and  conversa 
tion  were  still  in  Paris,  and  this  was  evident  from 
the  fact,  that  during  the  whole  week  of  Cornelia's 
stay  with  her,  she  never  once  named  Cornelia's 
love,  or  life,  or  prospects.  Rem  she  did  talk 
about,  but  chiefly  because  he  was  going  to  marry 
an  English  girl,  an  intention  she  angrily  de 
plored. 

"  I  am  sure,"  she  said,  "  Rem  might  have  learned 
a  lesson  from  my  sad  fortune.  What  does  he  want 
to  marry  a  foreigner  for  ?  He  ought  to  have  pre 
vented  me  from  doing  so,  instead  of  following  my 
foolish  example." 

"No  one  could  have  prevented  you,  Arenta. 
You  would  not  listen  even  to  your  father." 


288       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Oh  indeed,  it  was  my  fate.  We  must  all  sub 
mit  to  fate.  Why  did  you  refuse  Rem  ?  " 

"  He  was  not  my  fate,  Arenta." 

"  Well  then,  neither  is  George  Hyde  your  fate. 
Aunt  Jacobus  has  told  me  some  things  about  him. 
She  says  he  is  to  marry  his  cousin.  You  ought  to 
marry  Rem." 

As  she  said  these  words  Van  Ariens,  accom 
panied  by  Joris  Van  Heemskirk  entered  the  room, 
and  Cornelia  was  glad  to  escape.  She  knew  that 
Arenta  would  again  relate  all  her  experiences,  and 
she  disliked  to  mingle  them  with  her  renewed 
dreams  of  love  and  her  lover. 

"  She  will  talk  and  talk,'*  said  Cornelia  to  her 
mother,  u  and  then  there  will  be  tea  and  chocolate 
and  more  talk,  and  I  have  heard  all  I  wish  to  hear 
about  that  dreadful  city,  and  the  demons  who  walk 
in  blood." 

"  Arenta  has  made  a  great  sensation,  Cornelia," 
answered  Mrs.  Moran.  "She  has  received  half 
the  town.  Gertrude  Kippon  stole  quietly  home 
and  has  hardly  been  seen,  or  heard  tell  of." 

"  But  mother,  Arenta  has  far  more  genius  than 
Gertrude.  She  has  made  of  her  misfortunes  a 
great  drama,  and  wherever  you  go,  it  is  of  the 
Marquise  de  Tounnerre  people  are  talking.  Sena 
tor  Van  Heemskirk  came  in  with  her  father  as  I 
left." 

"  I  hope  he  treated  you  more  civilly  than  ma- 
dame  did." 


A  Heart  That  Waits  289 

u  He  was  delightful.  I  courtesied  to  him,  and 
he  lifted  my  hand  and  kissed  it,  and  said,  c  I  grew 
lovelier  every  day/  and  I  kissed  his  cheek  and  said, 
4 1  wished  alway  to  be  lovely  in  his  sight.'  Then 
I  came  home,  because  I  would  not,  just  yet,  speak 
of  George  to  him." 

"  Arenta  would  hardly  have  given  you  any  op 
portunity.  I  wonder  at  what  hour  she  will  release 
Joris  Van  Heemskirk  !  " 

u  It  will  be  later  than  it  ought  to  be." 

Indeed  it  was  so  late  that  Madame  Van  Heems 
kirk  had  locked  up  her  house  for  the  night,  and 
was  troubled  at  her  husband's  delay — even  a  little 
cross : 

"  An  old  man  like  you,  Joris,"  she  said  in  a 
tone  of  vexation — "  sitting  till  nine  o'clock  with 
the  last  runaway  from  Paris  ;  a  cold  you  have  al 
ready,  and  all  for  a  girl  that  threw  her  senses  be 
hind  her,  to  marry  a  Frenchman." 

"  Much  she  has  suffered,  Lysbet." 

"  Much  she  ought  to  suffer.  And  I  believe  not 
in  Arenta  Van  Ariens'  suffering.  In  some  way,  by 
hook  or  crook,  by  word  or  deed,  she  would  out  of 
any  trouble  work  her  way." 

"  I  will  sit  a  little  by  the  fire,  Lysbet.  Sit  down 
by  me.  My  mind  is  full  of  her  story." 

"That  is  it.  And  sleep  you  will  not,  and  to 
morrow  sick  you  will  be;  and  anxious  and  tired  I 
shall  be  ;  and  who  for  ?  The  Marquise  de  Toun- 
nerre  !  Well  then,  Joris,  in  thy  old  age  it  is  late 


290       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

for  thee  to  bow  down  to  the  Marquise  de  Toun- 
nerre ! " 

"  To  God  Almighty  only  I  bow  down,  Lysbet, 
and  as  for  titles  what  care  of  them  has  Joris  Van 
Hcemskirk  ?  Think  you,  when  God  calls  me  He 
will  say  '  Councillor  '  or  *  Senator '  ?  No,  He  will 
say  c  Joris  Van  Heemskirk  ! '  and  I  shall  answer  to 
that  name.  But  you  know  well,  Lysbet,  this 
bloody  trial  of  liberty  in  Paris  touches  all  the  world 
beside." 

"  Forgive  me,  Joris  !  A  shame  it  is  to  be  cross 
with  thee,  nor  am  I  cross  even  with  that  poor 
Arenta.  A  child,  a  very  child  she  is." 

"But  bitter  fears  and  suffering  she  has  come 
through.  Her  husband  was  guillotined  last  May, 
and  from  her  home  she  was  taken — no  time  to 
write  to  a  friend — no  time  to  save  anything  she 
had,  except  a  string  of  pearls,  which  round  her 
waist  for  many  weeks,  she  had  worn.  From 
prison  to  prison  she  was  sent,  until  at  last  she  was 
ordered  before  the  Revolutionary  Tribunal.  From 
that  tribunal  to  the  guillotine  is  only  a  step,  and 
she  would  surely  have  taken  it  but  for " 

"  Minister  Morris  ?  " 

"  No.  Twenty  miles  outside  the  city,  Minister 
Morris  now  lives ;  and  no  time  was  there  to  send 
him  word  of  her  strait.  Hungry  and  sick  upon 
the  floor  of  her  prison  she  was  sitting,  when  her 
name  was  called  ;  for  bead  after  bead  of  her  pearl 
necklace  had  gone  to  her  jailor,  only  for  a  little 


A  Heart  That  Waits  291 

black  bread  and  a  cup  of  milk  twice  a  day  ;  and 
this  morning  for  twenty-four  hours  she  had  been 
without  food  or  milk." 

"  The  poor  little  one  !  What  did  she  do  ?  " 
"  This  is  what  she  did,  and  blame  her  I  will  not. 
When  in  that  terrible  iron  armchair  before  those 
bloody  judges,  she  says  she  forgot  then  to  be  afraid. 
She  looked  at  Fouquier-Tinville  the  public  prose 
cutor,  and  at  the  fifteen  jurymen,  and  flinched  not. 
She  had  no  dress  to  help  her  beauty,  but  she  de 
clares  she  never  felt  more  beautiful,  and  well  I  can 
believe  it.  They  asked  her  name,  and  my  Lysbet, 
think  of  this  child's  answer !  '  I  am  called  Arenta 
JEFFERSON  de  Tounnerre/  she  said ;  and  at  the 
name  of  c  Jefferson '  there  were  exclamations,  and 
one  of  the  jurymen  rose  to  his  feet  and  asked  ex 
citedly,  4  What  is  it  you  mean  ?  Jefferson  !  The 
great  Jefferson !  The  great  Thomas  Jefferson ! 
The  great  American  who  loves  France  and  Liberty? ' 
*  It  is  the  same,'  she  answered,  and  then  she  sat  si 
lent,  asking  no  favour,  so  wise  was  she,  and  Fouquier- 
Tinville  looked  at  the  President  and  said — '  among 
my  friends  I  count  this  great  American  !  '  and  a 
juryman  added,  '  when  I  was  very  poor  and  hungry 
he  fed  and  helped  me/  and  he  bowed  to  Arenta  as 
he  spoke.  And  after  that  Fouquier-Tinville  asked 
who  would  certify  to  her  claim,  and  she  answered 
boldly,  l  Minister  Morris.'  When  questioned  fur 
ther  she  answered,  *  I  adore  Liberty,  I  believe  in 
France,  I  married  a  Frenchman,  for  Thomas  Jef- 


292       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

ferson  told  me  I  was  coming  to  a  great  nation  and 
might  trust  both  its  government  and  its  generosity.' 
They  asked  her  then  if  she  had  been  used  kindly 
in  prison,  and  she  told  them  her  jailor  had  been  to 
her  very  unkind,  and  that  he  had  taken  from  her 
the  pearl  necklace  which  was  her  wedding  gift,  and 
if  you  can  believe  Arenta,  they  were  all  extremely 
polite  to  her,  and  gave  her  at  once  the  papers  which 
permitted  her  to  leave  France.  The  next  day  a 
little  money  she  got  from  Minister  Morris,  but  a 
very  hard  passage  she  had  home.  And  listen  now, 
her  jailor  was  guillotined  before  she  left,  and  she 
declares  it  was  the  necklace — very  unfortunate  beads 
they  were,  and  Madame  Jacobus  said  when  she 
heard  of  their  fate,  c  let  them  go  !  With  blood 
and  death  they  came,  it  is  fit  they  should  go  as  they 
came  ! '  Arenta  thinks  as  soon  as  Fouquier-Tin- 
ville  heard  of  them,  he  doomed  the  man,  for  she 
saw  in  his  eyes  that  he  meant  to  have  them  for 
himself.  Well,  then,  she  is  also  sure  that  they 
will  take  Fouquier-Tinville  to  the  guillotine." 
"  After  all,  it  was  a  lie  she  told,  Joris." 
"  That  is  so,  but  I  think  her  life  was  worth  a 
few  words.  And  Thomas  Jefferson  says  she  was 
ten  thousand  times  welcome  to  the  protection  his 
name  gave  her.  I  thank  my  God  I  have  never 
had  such  temptation.  I  will  say  one  thing  though, 
Lysbet,  that  if  coming  home  some  night,  a  thief 
should  say  to  me  l  your  money  I  must  have '  and 
if  in  my  pocket  I  had  some  false  money,  as  well 


"AREXTA  ISKKOKK  THK  REVOLUTIONARY 


A  Heart  That  Waits  293 

as  true  money,  the  false  money  I  would  give  the 
thief  and  think  no  shame  to  do  it.  Overly  right 
eous  we  must  not  be,  Lysbet." 

"  I  am  astonished  also.  I  thought  Arenta  would 
cry  out  and  that  only." 

"  What  a  man  or  a  woman  will  do  and  suffer, 
and  how  they  will  do  and  suffer,  no  one  knows  till 
comes  some  great  occasion.  When  the  water  is 
ice,  who  could  believe  that  it  would  boil,  unless 
they  had  seen  ice  become  boiling  water  ?  All  the 
human  heart  wants,  is  the  chance." 

"  As  men  and  women  have  in  Paris  to  live,  I 
wonder  me,  that  they  can  wish  to  live  at  all  ! 
Welcome  to  them  must  be  death." 

u  So  wrong  are  you,  Lysbet.  Trouble  and 
hardship  make  us  love  life.  A  zest  they  give  to  it. 
It  is  when  we  have  too  much  money,  too  much 
good  food  and  wine,  too  much  pleasure  of  all 
kinds,  that  we  grow  melancholy  and  sad,  and  say 
all  is  vanity  and  vexation.  You  may  see  that  it  is 
always  so,  if  you  look  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  It 
was  not  from  the  Jews  in  exile  and  captivity,  but 
from  the  Jews  of  Solomon's  glory  came  the  only 
dissatisfied,  hopeless  words  in  the  Bible.  Yes,  in 
deed  !  it  is  the  souls  that  have  too  much,  who  cry 
out  vanity,  vanity,  all  is  vanity !  For  myself,  I 
like  not  the  petty  prudencies  of  Solomon.  There 
is  better  reading  in  Isaiah,  and  in  the  Psalms,  and 
in  the  blessed  Gospels." 

u  To-morrow,  Joris,  I  will  go  and  see  Arenta. 


294       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

She  is  fair,  and  she  knows  it ;  witty,  and  she  knows 
it ;  of  good  courage,  and  she  knows  it ;  the  fashion, 
and  she  knows  it ;  and  when  she  speaks,  she 
speaks  oracles  that  one  must  believe,  even  though 
one  does  not  understand  them.  To  Aurelia  Van 
Zandt  she  said,  my  heart  will  ache  forever  for  my 
beloved  Athanase,  and  Aurelia  says,  that  her  old 
lover  Willie  Nicholls  is  at  her  feet  sitting  all  the 
day  long — yet  for  all  these  things,  she  is  a  brave 
woman  and  I  will  go  and  see  her." 

u  Willie  Nicholls  is  a  good  young  man,  and  he 
is  rich  also ;  but  of  him  I  saw  nothing  at  all. 
Cornelia  Moran  was  there  and  no  flower  of  Para 
dise  is  so  sweet,  so  fair !  " 

"  A  very  proud  girl !  I  am  glad  she  said  '  no ' 
to  my  Joris." 

"  Come,  my  Lysbet,  we  will  now  pray  and  sleep. 
There  is  so  much  not  to  say." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE    NEW    DAYS    COME 

ONE  afternoon  in  the  late  autumn  Annie  was 
sitting  watching  Hyde  playing  with  his  dog,  a  big 
mastiff  of  noble  birth  and  character.  The  creature 
sat  erect  with  his  head  leaning  against  Hyde,  and 
Hyde's  arm  was  thrown  around  his  neck  as  he 
talked  to  him  of  their  adventures  on  the  Broad  that 
day.  Annie's  small  face,  though  delicate  and 
fragile  looking  was  full  of  peace,  and  her  eyes,  soft, 
deep  and  heavenly,  held  thoughts  that  linked  her 
with  heaven. 

Outside  there  was  in  the  air  that  November 
feeling  which  chills  like  the  passing  breath  of 
death,  the  deserted  garden  looked  sad  and  closed-in, 
and  everywhere  there  was  a  sense  of  the  languish 
ing  end  of  the  year,  of  the  fading  and  dropping  of 
all  living  things.  But  in  the  house  Annie  and 
Hyde  and  the  dog  sat  within  the  circle  of  warmth 
and  light  made  by  the  blazing  ash  logs,  and  in  that 
circle  there  was  at  least  an  atmosphere  of  sweet 
content.  Suddenly  George  looked  up  and  his  eyes 
caught  those  of  Annie  watching  him.  "  What 
have  you  been  reading,  Annie  ?  "  he  asked,  as  he 
stooped  forward  and  took  a  thin  volume  from  her 
295 


296       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

lap.  "  Why  !  "  he  cried,  "  'tis  Paul  and  Virginia. 
Do  you  indeed  read  love  stories  ?  " 

"Yes.  The  mystery  of  a  love  affair  pleases 
every  one ;  and  I  think  we  shall  not  tire  of  love 
stories  till  we  tire  of  the  mystery  of  spring,  or  of 
primroses  and  daffodils.  Every  one  I  know  takes 
their  tale  of  love  to  be  quite  a  new  tale." 

"  Love  has  been  cruel  to  me.  It  has  made  a 
cloud  on  my  life  that  will  help  to  cover  me  in  my 
grave.'* 

"  You  still  love  Cornelia  ?  " 

u  I  cannot  cure  myself  of  a  passion  so  hopeless. 
However,  as  I  see  no  end  to  my  unhappiness,  I  try 
to  submit  to  what  I  cannot  avoid.  What  is  the 
use  of  longing  for  that  which  I  have  no  hope  to 
get?" 

"  My  uncle  grows  anxious  for  you  to  marry. 
He  would  be  glad  to  see  the  succession  of  Hyde 
assured." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  I  have  no  mind  to  take  a  wife.  I 
hear  every  day  that  some  of  my  acquaintance 
have  married,  I  hear  of  none  that  have  done 
worse." 

"  You  believe  nothing  of  what  you  say.  My 
uncle  was  much  pleased  with  Sarah  Capel.  What 
did  you  think  of  the  beauty  ?  " 

u  Cornelia  has  made  all  other  women  so  in 
different  to  me,  that  if  I  cannot  marry  her,  my 
father  may  dispose  of  me  as  he  chooses." 

"  Cannot  you  forget  Cornelia  ?  " 


The  New  Days  Come  297 

"  It  is  impossible.  Every  day  I  resolve  to  think 
of  her  no  more,  and  then  I  continue  thinking  j 
and  every  day  I  am  more  and  more  in  love  with 
her.  Her  very  name  moves  me  beyond  words." 

"  There  is  no  name,  George,  however  sweet  and 
dear,  however  lovingly  spoken,  whose  echo  does 
not  at  last  grow  faint." 

"  Cornelia  will  echo  in  my  heart  as  long  as  my 
heart  beats." 

Then  they  were  silent,  and  Hyde  drew  his  dog 
closer  and  watched  the  blaze  among  some  lighter 
branches,  which  a  servant  had  just  brought  in.  At 
his  entrance  he  had  also  given  Annie  a  letter, 
which  she  was  eagerly  reading.  Hyde  had  no 
speculation  about  it;  and  even  when  he  found 
Annie  regarding  him  with  her  whole  soul  in  her 
face,  he  failed  to  understand,  as  he  always  had 
done,  the  noble  love  which  had  been  so  long  and 
so  faithfully  his — a  love  holding  itself  above  en 
dearments  ;  self-repressed,  self-sacrificing,  kept 
down  in  the  inmost  heart-chamber  a  dignified 
prisoner  behind  very  real  bars.  Yet  he  was  con 
scious  that  the  letter  was  of  more  than  usual 
interest,  and  when  the  servant  had  closed  the  door 
behind  him,  he  asked,  "  Whom  is  your  letter  from, 
Annie  ?  It  seems  to  please  you  very  much." 

She  leaned  forward  to  him  with  the  paper  in  her 
little  trembling  hand,  and  said, 

"  It  is  from  Cornelia." 

"  My    God  !  "     he    ejaculated ;    and    the  words 


298       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

were  fraught  with  such  feeling,  as  could  have  found 
no  other  vehicle  of  expression. 

"  She  has  sent  you,  dear  George,  a  copy  of  the 
letter  you  ought  to  have  received  more  than  two 
years  ago.  Read  it." 

His  eyes  ran  rapidly  over  the  sweet  words,  his 
face  flamed,  his  hands  trembled,  he  cried  out  im 
petuously  — 

"  But  what  does  it  mean  ?  Am  I  quite  in  my 
senses  ?  How  has  this  letter  been  delayed  ?  Why 
do  I  get  only  a  copy  ? " 

"  Because  Mr.  Van  Ariens  has  the  original." 

"It  is  all  incredible.  What  do  you  mean, 
Annie  ?  Do  not  keep  me  in  such  torturing  sus 
pense." 

"  It  means  that  Mr.  Van  Ariens  asked  Cornelia 
to  marry  him  on  the  same  day  that  you  wrote  to 
her  about  your  marriage.  She  answered  both  let 
ters  in  the  same  hour,  and  misdirected  them." 

"  God's  death  !  How  can  I  punish  so  mean  a 
scoundrel  ?  I  will  have  my  letter  from  him,  if  I 
follow  him  round  the  world  for  it." 

"You  have  your  letter  now.  I  asked  Cornelia 
to  write  it  again  for  you ;  and  you  see  she  has  done 
it  gladly." 

"  Angel  of  goodness  !  But  I  will  have  my  first 
letter." 

"  It  has  been  in  that  man's  keeping  for  more  than 
two  years.  I  would  not  touch  it.  'Twould  infect 
a  gentleman,  and  make  of  him  a  rascal  just  as  base." 


The  New  Days  Come  299 

"  He  shall  write  me  then  an  apology  in  his  own 
blood.  I  will  make  him  do  it,  at  the  point  of  my 
sword.*' 

"  If  I  were  you,  I  would  scorn  to  wet  my  sword 
in  blood  so  base." 

u  Remember,  Annie,  what  this  darling  girl  suf 
fered.  For  his  treachery  she  nearly  died.  I  speak 
not  of  my  own  wrong — it  is  as  nothing  to  hers." 

"  However,  she  might  have  been  more  careful." 

"  Annie,  she  was  in  the  happy  hurry  of  love. 
Your  calm  soul  knows  not  what  a  confusing  thing 
that  is — she  made  a  mistake,  and  that  sneaking 
villain  turned  her  mistake  into  a  crime.  By  a 
God's  mercy,  it  is  found  out — but  how  ?  Annie  ! 
Annie,  how  much  I  owe  you !  What  can  I  say  ? 
What  can  I  do?" 

"Be  reasonable.  Mary  Damer  really  found  it 
out.  His  guilty  restless  conscience  forced  him  to 
tell  her  the  story,  though  to  be  sure  he  put  the 
wrong  on  people  he  did  not  name.  But  I  knew 
so  much  of  the  mystery  of  your  love  sorrow,  as  to 
put  the  two  stories  together,  and  find  them  fit. 
Then  I  wrote  to  Cornelia." 

u  How  long  ago  ?  " 

"  About  two  months." 

"  Why  then  did  you  not  give  me  hope  ere  this  ?  " 

"  I  would  not  give  you  hope,  till  hope  was  cer 
tain.  Two  years  is  a  long  time  in  a  girl's  life.  It 
was  a  possible  thing  for  Cornelia  to  have  forgotten 
— to  have  changed." 


300       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

"  Impossible !  Quite  impossible  !  She  could 
not  forget.  She  could  not  change.  Why  did  you 
not  tell  me  ?  I  should  have  known  her  heart  by 
mine  own." 

"  I  wished  to  be  sure,"  repeated  Annie,  a  little 
sadly. 

"  Forgive  me,  dear  Annie.  But  this  news  throws 
me  into  an  unspeakable  condition.  You  see  that  I 
must  leave  for  America  at  once." 

"  No.     I  do  not  see  that,  George." 

"But  if  you  consider " 

"  I  have  been  considering  for  two  months.  Let 
me  decide  for  you  now,  for  you  are  not  able  to  do 
so  wisely.  Write  at  once  to  Cornelia,  that  is  your 
duty  as  well  as  your  pleasure.  But  before  you  go 
to  her,  there  are  things  indispensable  to  be  done. 
Will  you  ask  Doctor  Moran  for  his  child,  and  not 
be  able  to  show  him  that  you  can  care  for  her  as 
she  deserves  to  be  cared  for  ?  Lawyers  will  not  be 
hurried,  there  will  be  consultations,  and  engross- 
ings,  and  signings,  and  love — in  your  case — will 
have  to  wait  upon  law." 

"  'Tis  hard  for  love,  and  harder  perhaps  for 
anger  to  wait.  For  I  am  in  a  passion  of  wrath  at 
Van  Ariens.  I  long  to  be  near  him.  Oh  what 
suffering  his  envy  and  hatred  have  caused  others  !  " 

"  And  himself  also.  Be  sure  of  that,  or  he  had 
not  tried  to  find  some  ease  in  a  kind  of  confession. 
Doctor  Roslyn  will  tell  you  that  it  is  an  eternal 
law,  that  wherever  sin  is,  sorrow  will  answer  it." 


The  New  Days  Come  301 

"  The  man  is  hateful  to  me." 

"  He  has  done  a  thing  that  makes  him  hateful ; 
but  perhaps  for  all  that,  he  has  been  so  miserable 
about  it,  as  to  have  the  pity  of  the  Uncondemning 
One.  I  hear  your  father  coming.  I  am  sure  you 
will  have  his  sympathy  in  all  things." 

She  left  the  room  as  the  Earl  entered  it.  He 
was  in  unusually  high  spirits.  Some  political  news 
had  delighted  him,  and  without  noticing  his  son's 
excitement  he  said  — 

"  The  Commons  have  taken  things  in  their  own 
hands,  George.  I  said  they  would.  They  listen 
to  the  King  and  the  Lords  very  respectfully,  and 
then  obey  themselves.  Most  of  the  men  in  the 
Lower  House  are  unfit  to  enter  it." 

"  Well,  sir,  the  Lords  as  a  rule  send  them  there 
— you  have  sent  three  of  them  yourself — and  unfit 
men  in  public  places,  suppose  prior  unfitness  in 
those  who  have  the  places  to  dispose  of.  But  the 
government  is  not  interesting.  I  have  something 
else,  father,  to  think  about." 

"  Indeed,  I  think  the  government  is  extremely 
interesting.  It  is  very  like  three  horses  arranged 
in  tandem  fashion — first,  you  know,  the  King,  a 
little  out  of  the  reach  of  the  whip;  then  the  Lords 
follow  the  King,  and  the  Commons  are  in  the  shafts, 
a  more  ignoble  position,  but  yet — as  we  see  to-day, 
possessing  a  special  power  of  upsetting  the  coach." 

"  Father,  I  have  very  important  news  from 
America.  Will  you  listen  to  it  ?  " 


302       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  tell  it  to  me  straight,  and  not 
blunder  about  your  meaning." 

"  Sir,  I  have  just  discovered  that  a  letter  sent  to 
me  more  than  two  years  ago,  has  been  knowingly 
and  purposely  detained  from  me." 

"  By  whom  ?  " 

u  A  man  into  whose  hands  it  fell  by  misdirec 
tion." 

"  Did  the  letter  contain  means  of  identifying  it, 
as  belonging  to  you  ?  " 

"Ample  means." 

"  Then  the  man  is  outside  your  recognition. 
You  might  as  well  go  to  the  Bridewell,  and  seek  a 
second  among  its  rifF-raff  of  scoundrels.  Tell  me 
shortly  whom  it  concerns." 

"  Miss  Moran." 

"  Oh  indeed  !  Are  we  to  have  that  subject 
opened  again  ?  " 

His  face  darkened,  and  George,  with  an  im 
petuosity  that  permitted  no  interruption,  told  the 
whole  story.  As  he  proceeded  the  Earl  became  in 
terested,  then  sympathetic.  He  looked  with  moist 
eyes  at  the  youth  so  dear  to  him,  and  saw  that  his  heart 
was  filled  with  the  energy  and  tenderness  of  his  love. 
His  handsome  face,  his  piercingly  bright  eyes,  his 
courteous,  but  obstinately  masterful  manner,  his  al 
most  boyish  passion  of  anger  and  impatience,  his 
tall,  serious  figure,  erect,  as  if  ready  for  opposition  ; 
even  that  sentiment  of  deadly  steel,  of  being  im 
patient  to  toss  his  sheath  from  his  sword,  pleased 


The  New  Days  Come  303 

very  much  the  elder  man  ;  and  won  both  his  re 
spect  and  his  admiration.  He  felt  that  his  son  had 
rights  all  his  own,  and  that  he  must  cheerfully  and 
generously  allow  them. 

"  George,  "  he  answered,  "  you  have  won  my 
approval.  You  have  shown  me  that  you  can  suffer 
and  be  faithful,  and  the  girl  able  to  inspire  such  an 
affection,  must  be  worthy  of  it.  What  do  you 
wish  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  America  by  the  next  packet." 

"  Sit  down,  then  we  can  talk  without  feeling  that 
every  word  is  a  last  word,  and  full  of  hurry  and 
therefore  of  unreason.  You  desire  to  see  Miss 
Moran  without  delay,  that  is  very  natural." 

u  Yes,  sir.  I  am  impatient  also  to  get  my  let 
ter." 

"  I  think  that  of  no  importance." 

"  What  would  you  have  done  in  my  case,  and 
at  my  age,  father  ?  " 

"  Something  extremely  foolish.  I  should  have 
killed  the  man,  or  been  killed  by  him.  I  hope  that 
you  have  more  sense.  Society  does  not  now  com 
pel  you  to  answer  insult  with  murder.  The  noble 
not  caring  of  the  spirit,  is  beyond  the  mere  passion 
of  the  animal.  What  does  Annie  say  ?  " 

"Annie  is  an  angel.  I  walk  far  below  her — 
and  I  hate  the  man  who  has  so  wronged — Cor 
nelia.  I  think,  sir,  you  must  also  hate  him." 

"  I  hate  nobody.  God  send,  that  I  may  be 
treated  the  same.  George,  you  have  flashed  your 


304       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

sword  only  in  a  noble  quarrel,  will  you  now  stain 
it  with  the  blood  of  a  man  below  your  anger  or 
consideration  ?  You  have  had  your  follies,  and  I 
have  smiled  at  them  ;  knowing  well,  that  a  man 
who  has  no  follies  in  his  youth,  will  have  in  his 
maturity  no  power.  But  now  you  have  come  of 
age,  not  only  in  years  but  in  suffering  cheerfully 
endured  and  well  outlived  ;  so  I  may  talk  to  you  as 
a  man,  and  not  command  you  as  a  father." 

"  What  do  you  wish  me  to  do,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  advise  you  to  write  to  Miss  Moran  at  once. 
Tell  her  you  are  more  anxious  now  to  redeem  your 
promise,  than  ever  you  were  before.  Say  to  her 
that  I  already  look  upon  her  as  a  dear  daughter, 
and  am  taking  immediate  steps  to  settle  upon  you 
the  American  Manor,  and  also  such  New  York 
property  as  will  provide  for  the  maintenance  of 
your  family  in  the  state  becoming  your  order  and 
your  expectations.  Tell  her  that  my  lawyers  will 
go  to  this  business  to-morrow,  and  that  as  soon  as 
the  deeds  are  in  your  hand,  you  will  come  and  ask 
for  the  interview  with  Doctor  Moran,  so  long  and 
cruelly  delayed." 

"  My  dear  father !  How  wise  and  kind  you 
are  !  " 

"  It  is  my  desire  to  be  so,  George.  You  cannot, 
after  this  unfortunate  delay,  go  to  Doctor  Moran 
without  the  proofs  of  your  ability  to  take  care  of 
his  daughter's  future." 

"  How  soon  can  this  business  be  accomplished  ?  " 


The  New  Days  Come  305 

u  In  about  three  weeks,  I  should  think.  But 
wait  your  full  time,  and  do  not  go  without  the 
credentials  of  your  position.  This  three  or  four 
weeks  is  necessary  to  bring  to  perfection  the  wait 
ing  of  two  years." 

"  I  will  take  your  advice,  sir.  I  thank  you  for 
your  generosity." 

"  All  that  I  have  is  yours,  George.  And  you 
can  write  to  this  dear  girl  every  day  in  the  interim. 
Go  now  and  tell  her  what  I  say.  I  had  other 
dreams  for  you  as  you  know — they  are  over  now 
— I  have  awakened." 

"  Dear  Annie  !  "  ejaculated  George. 

"  Dear  Annie  !  "  replied  the  Earl  with  a  sigh. 
"  She  is  one  of  the  daughters  of  God,  I  am  not 
worthy  to  call  her  mine;  but  I  have  sat  at  her  feet, 
and  learned  how  to  love,  and  how  to  forgive,  and 
how  to  bear  disappointment.  I  will  tell  you,  that 
when  Colonel  Saye  insulted  me  last  year,  and  I 
felt  for  my  sword  and  would  have  sent  him  a  letter 
on  its  point — Annie  stepped  before  him.  l  Forget, 
and  go  on,  dear  uncle,'  she  said ;  and  I  did  so  with 
a  proud,  sore  heart  at  first,  but  quite  cheerfully  in  a 
week  or  two ;  and  at  the  last  Hunt  dinner  he  came 
to  me  with  open  hand,  and  we  ate  and  drank  to 
gether,  and  are  now  firm  friends.  Yet,  but  for 
Annie,  one  of  us  might  be  dead  ;  and  the  other 
flying  like  Cain  exiled  and  miserable.  Think  of 
these  things,  George.  The  good  of  being  a  son,  is 
to  be  able  to  profit  from  your  father's  mistakes." 


306       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

They  parted  with  a  handclasp  that  went  to  both 
hearts,  and  as  Hyde  passed  his  mother's  room,  he 
went  in,  and  told  her  all  that  happened  to  him. 
She  listened  with  a  smile  and  a  heartache.  She 
knew  now  that  the  time  had  come  to  say  "  farewell  " 
to  the  boy  who  had  made  her  life  for  twenty-seven 
years.  u  He  must  marry  like  the  rest  of  the  world, 
and  go  away  from  her,"  and  only  mothers  know 
what  supreme  self-sacrifice  a  pleasant  acquiescence 
in  this  event  implies.  But  she  bravely  put  down 
all  the  clamouring  selfishness  of  her  long  sweet  care 
and  affection,  and  said  cheerfully  — 

"  Very  much  to  my  liking  is  Cornelia  Moran. 
She  is  world-like  and  heaven-like,  and  her  good 
heart  and  sweet  nature  every  one  knows.  A  lov 
ing  wife  and  a  noble  mother  she  will  make,  and  if 
I  must  lose  thee,  my  Jons,  there  is  no  girl  in 
America  that  I  like  better  to  have  thee." 

"  Never  will  you  lose  me,  mother." 

"  Ah  then  !  that  is  what  all  sons  say.  The 
common  lot,  I  look  for  nothing  better.  But  see 
now !  I  give  thee  up  cheerfully.  If  God  please,  I 
shall  see  thy  sons  and  daughters ;  and  thy  father 
has  been  anxious  about  the  Hydes.  He  would  not 
have  a  stranger  here — nor  would  I.  Our  hope  is 
in  thee  and  thy  sweet  wife,  and  very  glad  am  I  that 
thy  wife  is  to  be  Cornelia  Moran." 

And  even  after  Joris  had  left  her  she  smiled, 
though  the  tears  dropped  down  upon  her  work. 
She  thought  of  the  presents  she  would  send  her 


The  New  Days  Come  307 

daughter,  and  she  told  herself  that  Cornelia  was  an 
American,  and  that  she  had  made  for  her,  with  her 
own  hands  and  brain,  a  lovely  home  wherein  her 
memory  must  always  dwell.  Indeed  she  let  her 
thoughts  go  far  forward  to  see,  and  to  listen  to 
the  happy  boys  and  girls  who  might  run  and  shout 
gleefully  through  the  fair  large  rooms,  and  the 
sweet  shady  gardens  her  skill  and  taste  had  ordered 
and  planted.  Thus  her  generosity  made  her  a 
partaker  of  her  children's  happiness,  and  whoever 
partakes  of  a  pleasure  has  his  share  of  it,  and 
comes  into  contact — not  only  with  the  happiness — 
but  with  the  other  partakers  of  that  happiness — a 
divine  kind  of  interest  for  generous  deeds,  which 
we  may  all  appropriate. 

Nothing  is  more  contagious  than  joy,  and  Hyde 
was  now  a  living  joy  through  all  the  house.  His 
voice  had  caught  a  new  tone,  his  feet  a  more  buoy 
ant  step,  he  carried  himself  like  a  man  expectant 
of  some  glorious  heritage.  So  eager,  so  ardent,  so 
ready  to  be  happy,  he  inspired  every  one  with  his 
buoyant  gladness  of  heart.  He  could  at  least  talk 
to  Cornelia  with  his  pen  every  day,  yes,  every  hour 
if  he  desired ;  and  if  it  had  been  possible  to  trans 
fer  in  a  letter  his  own  light-heartedness,  the  words 
he  wrote  would  have  shone  upon  the  paper. 

The  next  morning  Mary  Damer  called.  She 
knew  that  a  letter  from  Cornelia  was  possible,  and 
she  knew  also  that  it  would  really  be  as  fateful  to 
herself,  as  to  Hyde.  If,  as  she  suspected,  it  was 


308       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Rem  Van  Ariens  who  had  detained  the  misdirected 
letter,  there  was  only  one  conceivable  result  as  re 
garded  herself.  She,  an  upright,  honourable  Eng 
lish  girl,  loving  truth  with  all  her  heart,  and  de 
spising  whatever  was  underhand  and  disloyal,  had 
but  one  course  to  take — she  must  break  off  her  en 
gagement  with  a  man  so  far  below  her  standard  of 
simple  morality.  She  could  not  trust  his  honour, 
and  what  security  has  love  in  a  heart  without  hon 
our  ? 

So  she  looked  anxiously  at  Annie  as  she  entered, 
and  Annie  would  not  keep  her  in  suspense. 
"  There  was  a  letter  from  Miss  Moran  last  night," 
she  said.  "  She  loves  George  yet.  She  re-wrote 
the  unfortunate  letter,  and  this  time  it  found  its 
owner.  I  think  he  has  it  next  his  heart  at  this 
very  moment." 

u  I  am  glad  of  that,  Annie.  But  who  has  the 
first  letter  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  know,  Mary." 

"You  mean  Mr.  Van  Ariens  ?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  there  is  no  more  to  be  said.  I  shall 
write  to  him  as  soon  as  possible." 

"I  am  sorry " 

"  No,  no !  Be  content,  Annie.  The  right 
must  always  come  right.  Neither  you  nor  I  could 
desire  any  other  end,  even  to  our  own  love  story." 

"  But  you  must  suffer." 

"  Not  much.     None  of  us  weep  if  we  lose  what 


The  New  Days  Come  309 

is  of  no  value.  And  I  have  noticed  that  the  hap 
piness  of  any  one  is  always  conditioned  by  the 
unhappiness  of  some  one  else.  Love  usually 
builds  his  home  out  of  the  wrecks  of  other  homes. 
Your  cousin  and  Cornelia  will  be  happy,  but  there 
are  others  that  must  suffer,  that  they  may  be  so. 
I  will  go  now,  Annie,  because  until  I  have  written 
to  Mr.  Van  Ariens,  I  shall  not  feel  free.  And 
also,  I  do  not  wish  him  to  come  here,  and  in  his 
last  letter  he  spoke  of  such  an  intention." 

So  the  two  letters — that  of  Hyde  to  Cornelia, 
and  that  of  Mary  Darner  to  Van  Ariens,  left  Eng 
land  for  America  in  the  same  packet ;  and  though 
Mary  Damer  undoubtedly  had  some  suffering  and 
disappointment  to  conquer,  the  fight  was  all  within 
her.  To  her  friends  at  the  Manor  she  was  just 
the  same  bright,  courageous  girl ;  ready  for  every 
emergency,  and  equally  ready  to  make  the  most  of 
every  pleasure. 

And  the  tone  of  the  Manor  House  was  now  set 
to  a  key  of  the  highest  joy  and  expectation. 
Hyde  unconsciously  struck  the  note,  for  he  was 
happily  busy  from  morning  to  night  about  affairs 
relating  either  to  his  marriage,  or  to  his  future  as 
the  head  of  a  great  household.  All  his  old  exigent, 
extravagant  liking  for  rich  clothing  returned  to 
him.  He  had  constant  visits  from  his  London 
tailor,  a  dapper  little  artist,  who  brought  with  him 
a  profusion  of  rich  cloth,  silk  and  satin,  and  who 
firmly  believed  that  the  tailor  made  the  man. 


310       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

There  were  also  endless  interviews  with  the  family 
lawyer,  endless  readings  of  law  papers,  and  end 
less  consultations  about  rights  and  successions, 
which  Hyde  was  glad  and  grateful  to  leave  very 
much  to  his  father's  wisdom  and  generosity. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  happy  period,  Hyde 
had  been  sure  that  the  business  of  his  preparations 
would  be  arranged  in  three  weeks ;  a  month  had 
appeared  to  be  a  quite  unreasonable  and  impossible 
delay ;  but  the  month  passed,  and  it  was  nearly  the 
middle  of  November  when  all  things  were  ready 
for  his  voyage.  His  mother  would  then  have 
urged  a  postponement  until  spring,  but  she  knew 
that  George  would  brook  no  further  delay ;  and 
she  was  wise  enough  to  accept  the  inevitable  cheer 
fully.  And  thus  by  letting  her  will  lead  her,  in 
the  very  road  necessity  drove  her,  she  preserved 
not  only  her  liberty,  but  her  desire. 

Some  of  these  last  days  were  occupied  in  select 
ing  from  her  jewels  presents  for  Cornelia,  with 
webs  of  gold  and  silver  tissues,  and  Spitalfields 
silks  so  rich  and  heavy,  that  no  mortal  woman 
might  hope  to  outwear  them.  To  these  Annie 
added  from  her  own  store  of  lace,  many  very  val 
uable  pieces  ;  and  the  happy  bridegroom  was  proud 
to  see  that  love  was  going  to  send  him  away,  with 
both  arms  full  for  the  beloved. 

The  best  gift  however  came  last,  and  it  was 
from  the  Earl.  It  was  not  gold  or  land,  though  he 
gave  generously  of  both  these ;  but  one  which 


The  New  Days  Come  3 1 1 

Hyde  felt  made  his  way  straight  before  him,  and 
which  he  knew  must  have  cost  his  father  much 
self-abnegation.  It  was  the  following  letter  to 
Dr.  John  Moran. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

It  seems  then,  that  our  dear  children  love 
each  other  so  well,  that  it  is  beyond  our  right,  even 
as  parents,  to  forbid  their  marriage.  I  ask  from 
you,  for  my  son,  who  is  a  humble  and  ardent  suitor 
for  Miss  Moran's  hand,  all  the  favour  his  sincere  de 
votion  to  her  deserves.  We  have  both  been 
young,  we  have  both  loved,  accept  then  his  affec 
tion  as  some  atonement  for  any  grievance  or  in 
justice  you  remember  against  myself.  Had  we 
known  each  other  better,  we  should  doubtless  have 
loved  each  other  better;  but  now  that  marriage 
will  make  us  kin,  I  offer  you  my  hand,  with  all  it 
implies  of  regret  for  the  past,  and  of  respect  for  the 
future.  Your  servant  to  command, 

RICHARD  HYDE. 

u  It  is  the  greatest  proof  of  my  love  I  can  give 
you,  George,"  said  the  Earl,  when  the  letter  had 
been  read  ;  "  and  it  is  Annie  you  must  thank  for  it. 
She  dropped  the  thought  into  my  heart,  and  if  the 
thought  has  silently  grown  to  these  written  words, 
it  is  because  she  had  put  many  other  good  thoughts 
there,  and  that  these  helped  this  one  to  come  to 
perfection.'* 

"  Have  you  noticed,  father,  how  small  and 
fragile-looking  she  is  ?  Can  she  really  be  slowly 
dying  ?  " 


312       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

"  No,  she  is  not  dying ;  she  is  only  going  a  little 
further  away — a  little  further  away,  every  hour. 
Some  hour  she  will  be  called,  and  she  will  answer, 
and  we  shall  see  her  no  more — here.  But  I  do  not 
call  that  dying,  and  if  it  be  dying,  Annie  will  go  as 
calmly  and  simply,  as  if  she  were  fulfilling  some 
religious  rite  or  duty.  She  loves  God,  and  she  will 
go  to  Him." 

The  next  morning  Hyde  left  his  father's  home 
forever.  It  was  impossible  that  such  a  parting 
should  be  happy.  No  hopes,  no  dreams  of  future 
joy,  could  make  him  forget  the  wealth  of  love  he 
was  leaving.  Nor  did  he  wish  to  forget.  And 
woe  to  the  man  or  woman  who  would  buy  com 
posure  and  contentment  by  forgetting  ! — by  really 
forfeiting  a  portion  of  their  existence — by  being  a 
suicide  of  their  own  moral  nature. 

The  day  was  a  black  winter  day,  with  a  mo 
notonous  rain  and  a  dark  sky  troubled  by  a  ghostly 
wind.  Inside  the  house  the  silence  fell  on  the 
heart  like  a  weight.  The  Earl  and  Countess 
watched  their  son's  carriage  turn  from  the  door, 
and  then  looked  silently  into  each  other's  face. 
The  Earl's  lips  were  firmly  set,  and  his  eyes  full  of 
tears ;  the  Countess  was  weeping  bitterly.  He 
went  with  her  to  her  room,  and  with  all  his  old 
charm  and  tenderness  comforted  her  for  her  great 
loss. 

At  that  moment  Annie  was  forgotten,  yet  no  one 
was  suffering  more  than  she  was.  Hyde  had  knelt 


The  New  Days  Come  313 

by  her  sofa,  and  taken  her  in  his  arms,  and  covered 
her  face  with  tears  and  kisses,  and  she  had  not  been 
able  to  oppose  a  parting  so  heart-breaking  and  so 
final.  The  last  tears  she  was  ever  to  shed  dropped 
from  her  closed  eyes,  as  she  listened  to  his  depart 
ing  steps ;  and  the  roll  of  the  carriage  carrying  him 
away  forever,  seemed  to  roll  over  her  shrinking 
heart.  She  cried  out  feebly — a  pitiful  little  shrill 
cry,  that  she  hushed  with  a  sob  still  more  full  of 
anguish.  Then  she  began  to  cast  over  her  suffer 
ing  soul  the  balm  of  prayer,  and  prostrate  with 
closed  eyes,  and  hands  feebly  hanging  down,  Doctor 
Roslyn  found  her.  He  did  not  need  to  ask  a 
question,  he  had  long  known  the  brave  self-sacrifice 
that  was  consecrating  the  child-heart  suffering  so 
sharply  that  day  ;  and  he  said  only  — 

u  We  are  made  perfect  through  suffering,  Annie." 

"  I  know,  dear  father." 

"And  you  have  found  before  this,  that  the 
sorrow  well  borne  is  full  of  strange  joys — joys, 
whose  long  lasting  perfumes,  show  that  they  were 
grown  in  heaven  and  not  on  earth." 

"  This  is  the  last  sorrow  that  can  come  to  me, 
father." 

"  And  my  dear  Annie,  you  would  have  been  a 
loser  without  it.  Every  grief  has  its  meaning,  and 
the  web  of  life  could  not  be  better  woven,  if  only 
love  touched  it." 

"  I  have  been  praying,  father." 

"  Nay,  but   God   Himself  prayed  in  you,  while 


314       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

your  soul  waited  in  deep  resignation.  God  gave 
you  both  the  resignation  and  the  answer." 

u  My  heart  failed  me  at  the  last — then  I  prayed 
as  well  as  I  could." 

"And  then,  visited  by  the  not  yourself  in  you, 
your  head  was  lifted  up.  Do  not  be  frightened  at 
what  you  want.  Strive  for  it  little  by  little.  All 
that  is  bitter  in  outward  things,  or  in  interior 
things,  all  that  befalls  you  in  the  course  of  a  day,  is 
your  daily  bread  if  you  will  take  it  from  His  hand." 

Then  she  was  silent  and  quite  still,  and  he  sat 
and  watched  the  gradual  lifting  of  the  spirit's  cloud 
— watched,  until  the  pallor  of  her  face  grew  lu 
minous  with  the  inner  light,  and  her  wide  open 
eyes  saw,  as  in  a  vision,  things  invisible  to  mortal 
sight ;  but  open  to  the  spirit  on  that  dazzling  line 
where  mortal  and  immortal  verge. 

And  as  he  went  home,  stepping  slowly  through 
the  misty  world,  he  himself  hardly  knew  whether 
he  was  in  the  body  or  out  of  it.  He  felt  not  the 
dripping  rain,  he  was  not  conscious  of  the  encom 
passing  earthly  vapours,  he  had  passed  within  the 
veil  and  was  worshipping 

"  In  dazzling  temples  opened  straight  to  Him, 
Where  One  who  had  great  lightnings  for  His  crown 
Was  suddenly  made  present ;  vast  and  dim 
Through  crowded  pinions  of  the  Cherubim." 

And  his  feet  stumbled  not,  nor  was  he  aware  of 
anything  around,  until  the  Earl  met  him  at  the 
park  gates  and  touching  him  said  reverently  — 


The  New  Days  Come  315 

tl  Father,  you  are  close  to  the  highway.  Have 
you  seen  Annie  ?  " 

"  I  have  just  left  her." 

u  She  is  further  from  us  than  ever." 

"  Richard  Hyde,"  he  answered,  u  she  is  on  her 
way  to  God,  and  she  can  rest  nothing  short  of 
that." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

"  HUSH  !    LOVE    IS    HERE  !  " 

ON  the  morning  that  Hyde  sailed  for  America, 
Cornelia  received  the  letter  he' had  written  her  on 
the  discovery  of  Rem's  dishonourable  conduct.  So 
much  love,  so  much  joy,  sent  to  her  in  the  secret 
foldings  of  a  sheet  of  paper !  In  a  hurry  of  de 
light  and  expectation  she  opened  it,  and  her  beam 
ing  eyes  ran  all  over  the  joyful  words  it  brought 
her — sweet  fluttering  pages,  that  his  breath  had 
moved,  and  his  face  been  aware  of.  How  he 
would  have  rejoiced  to  see  her  pressing  them  to  her 
bosom,  at  some  word  of  fonder  memory  or  desire. 

There  was  much  in  this  letter  which  it  was  nec 
essary  her  father  and  mother  should  hear — the 
Earl's  message  to  them — Hyde's  own  proposition 
for  an  immediate  marriage,  and  various  necessities 
referring  to  this  event.  But  she  was  proud  and 
happy  to  read  words  of  such  noble,  straightforward 
affection ;  and  the  Doctor  was  especially  pleased 
by  the  deference  expressed  for  his  wishes.  When 
he  left  the  house  that  day  he  kissed  his  daughter 
with  pride  and  tenderness,  and  said  to  Mrs.  Moran  — 
u  Ava,  there  will  be  much  to  get,  and  much  to 
do  in  a  short  time,  but  money  manages  all  things, 
316 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         317 

Do  not  spare  where  it  is  necessary."  And  then 
what  important  and  interesting  consultations  fol 
lowed  !  what  lists  of  lovely  garments  became  im 
perative,  which  an  hour  before  had  not  been 
dreamed  of !  what  discussions  as  to  mantua  makers 
and  milliners  !  as  to  guests  and  ceremonies  !  as  to 
all  the  details  of  a  life  unknown,  but  invested  by 
love  and  youth,  with  a  delightfully  overwhelming 
importance. 

Cornelia  was  so  happy  that  her  ordinary  dress  of 
grey  camelot  did  not  express  her;  she  felt  con 
strained  to  add  to  it  some  bows  of  bright  scarlet 
ribbon,  and  then  she  looked  round  about  her  room, 
and  went  through  her  drawers,  to  find  something 
else  to  be  a  visible  witness  to  the  light  heart  sing 
ing  within  her.  And  she  came  across  some  coral 
combs  that  Madame  Jacobus  had  given  her,  and 
felt  their  vivid  colouring  in  the  shining  masses  of 
her  dark  hair,  to  be  one  of  the  right  ways  of  say 
ing  to  herself,  and  all  she  loved,  u  See  how  happy 
I  am  !  " 

In  the  afternoon,  when  the  shopping  for  the  day 
had  been  accomplished,  she  went  to  Captain  Ja 
cobus,  to  play  with  him  the  game  of  backgammon 
which  had  become  an  almost  daily  duty,  and  to 
which  the  Captain  attached  a  great  importance. 
Indeed,  for  many  weeks  it  had  been  the  event  of 
every  day  to  him ;  and  if  he  was  no  longer  de 
pendent  on  it,  he  was  grateful  enough  to  acknowl 
edge  all  the  good  it  had  done  him.  "  I  owe  your 


318       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

daughter  as  much  as  I  owe  you,  sir,"  he  would  say 
to  Doctor  Moran,  "  and  I  owe  both  of  you  a  big 
ger  debt  than  I  can  clear  myself  of." 

This  afternoon  he  looked  at  his  visitor  with  a 
wondering  speculation.  There  was  something  in 
her  face,  and  manner,  and  voice,  he  had  never  be 
fore  seen  or  heard,  and  madame — who  watched 
every  expression  of  her  husband — was  easily  led 
to  the  same  observation.  She  observed  Cornelia 
closely,  and  her  gay  laugh  especially  revealed  some 
change.  It  was  like  the  burst  of  bird  song  in  early 
spring,  and  she  followed  the  happy  girl  to  the  front 
door,  and  called  her  back  when  she  had  gone  down 
the  steps,  and  said,  as  she  looked  earnestly  in  her 
face  — 

"  You  have  heard  from  Joris  Hyde  ?  I  know 
you  have !  "  and  Cornelia  nodded  her  head,  and 
blushed,  and  smiled,  and  ran  away  from  further 
question. 

When  she  reached  home  she  found  Madame 
Van  Heemskirk  sitting  with  her  mother,  and  the 
sweet  old  lady  rose  to  meet  her,  and  said  before 
Cornelia  could  utter  a  word  : 

"  Come  to  me,  Cornelia.  This  morning  a  letter 
we  have  had  from  my  Joris,  and  sorry  am  I  that  I 
did  thee  so  much  wrong." 

u  Madame,  I  have  long  ago  forgotten  it ;  and 
there  was  a  mistake  all  round,"  answered  Cornelia, 
cheerfully. 

"  That  is  so — and  thy  mistake  first  of  all.    Hurry 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         319 

is  misfortune  j  even  to  be  happy,  it  is  not  wise  to 
hurry.  Listen  now  !  Joris  has  written  to  his 
grandfather,  and  also  to  me,  and  very  busy  he  will 
keep  us  both.  His  grandfather  is  to  look  after  the 
stables  and  the  horses,  and  to  buy  more  horses,  and 
to  hire  serving  men  of  all  kinds.  And  a  long  let 
ter  also  I  have  had  from  my  daughter  Katherine, 
and  she  tells  me  to  make  her  duty  to  thee  my  duty. 
That  is  my  pleasure  also,  and  I  have  been  talking 
with  thy  mother  about  the  house.  Now  I  shall  go 
there,  and  a  very  pleasant  home  I  shall  make  it. 
Many  things  Joris  will  bring  with  him — two  new 
carnages  and  much  fine  furniture — and  I  know  not 
what  else  beside." 

Then  Cornelia  kissed  madame,  and  afterwards 
removed  her  bonnet;  and  madame  looked  at  her 
smiling.  The  vivid  coral  in  her  dark  hair,  the 
modest  grey  dress  with  its  knots  of  colour,  and 
above  all  the  lovely  face  alight  with  love  and  hope, 
delighted  her. 

"  Very  pretty  art  thou,  very  pretty  indeed  !  "  she 
said,  impulsively ;  and  then  she  added,  "  Many 
other  girls  are  very  pretty  also,  but  my  Joris  loves 
thee,  and  I  am  glad  that  it  is  thee,  and  very  wel 
come  art  thou  to  me,  and  very  proud  is  my  hus 
band  of  thee.  And  now  I  must  go,  because  there 
is  much  to  do,  and  little  time  to  do  it  in." 

For  nearly  a  week  Cornelia  was  too  busy  to  take 
Arenta  into  her  consideration.  She  did  not  care  to 
tell  her  about  Rem's  cruel  and  dishonourable  con- 


320       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

duct,  and  she  was  afraid  the  shrewd  little  Marquise 
would  divine  some  change,  and  get  the  secret  out 
of  her.  Indeed,  Arenta  was  not  long  in  suspect 
ing  something  unusual  in  the  Doctor's  household — 
the  number  of  parcels  and  of  work  people  aston 
ished  her;  and  she  was  not  a  little  offended  at 
Madame  Van  Heemskirk  spending  a  whole  after 
noon  so  near  to  her,  and  "  never  even,"  as  she 
said  to  her  father,  "turning  her  head  this  way." 
For  Arenta  had  drunk  a  rather  long  draught  of 
popular  interest,  and  she  could  not  bear  to  be 
lieve  it  was  declining.  Was  she  not  the  Amer 
ican  heroine  of  1793  ?  It  was  almost  a  want 
of  patriotism  in  Madame  Van  Heemskirk  to  ne 
glect  her. 

After  a  week  had  elapsed  Cornelia  went  over 
one  morning  to  see  her  friend.  But  by  this  time 
Arenta  knew  everything.  Her  brother  Rem  had 
been  with  her  and  confessed  all  to  his  sister.  It 
had  not  been  a  pleasant  meeting  by  any  means. 
She  heard  the  story  with  indignation,  but  contrived 
to  feel  that  somehow  Rem  was  not  so  much  to 
blame  as  Cornelia,  and  other  people. 

u  You  are  right  served,"  she  said  to  her  brother, 
"  for  meddling  with  foreigners,  and  especially  for 
mixing  your  love  affairs  up  with  an  English  girl. 
Proud,  haughty  creatures  all  of  them  !  And  you 
are  a  very  fool  to  tell  any  woman  such  a — crime. 
Yes,  it  is  a  crime.  I  won't  say  less.  That  girl 
over  the  way  nearly  died,  and  you  would  have  let 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         321 

her  die.  It  was  a  shame.  I  don't  love  Cornelia 
— but  it  was  a  shame." 

"  The  letter  was  addressed  to  me,  Arenta." 

"  Fiddlesticks !  You  knew  it  was  not  yours. 
You  knew  it  was  Hyde's.  Where  is  it  now  ? " 

She  asked  the  question  in  her  usual  dominant 
way,  and  Rem  did  not  feel  able  to  resist  it.  He 
looked  for  a  moment  at  the  angry  woman,  and  was 
subdued  by  her  air  of  authority.  He  opened  his 
pocketbook  and  from  a  receptacle  in  it,  took  the 
fateful  letter.  She  seized  and  read  it,  and  then 
without  a  word,  or  a  moment's  hesitation  threw  it 
into  the  fire. 

Rem  blustered  and  fumed,  and  she  stood  smiling 
defiantly  at  him.  "You  are  like  all  criminals," 
she  said;  "you  must  keep  something  to  accuse 
yourself  with.  I  love  you  too  well  to  permit  you 
to  carry  that  bit  of  paper  about  you.  It  has  worked 
you  harm  enough.  What  are  you  going  to  do  ? 
Is  Miss  Darner's  refusal  quite  final  ?  " 

"  Quite.     It  was  even  scornful." 

"  Plenty  of  nice  girls  in  Boston." 

"  I  cannot  go  back  to  Boston." 

"  Why  then  ?  " 

"  Because  Mary's  cousin  has  told  the  whole 
affair." 

"  Nonsense  !  " 

"She  has.  I  know  it.  Men,  whom  I  had  been 
friendly  with,  got  out  of  my  way  ;  women  excused 
themselves  at  their  homes,  and  did  not  see  me  on 


322       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

the  streets.  I  have  no  doubt  all  Boston  is  talking 
of  the  affair." 

"  Then  come  back  to  New  York.  New  York 
ers  attend  strictly  to  their  own  love  affairs.  Father 
will  stand  by  you ;  and  I  will." 

u  Father  will  not.  He  called  me  a  scoundrel, 
when  I  told  him  last  night,  and  advised  me  to  go 
to  the  frontier.  Joris  Van  Heemskirk  will  not 
talk,  but  madame  will  chatter  for  him,  and  I  could 
not  bear  to  meet  Doctor  Moran.  As  for  Captain 
Jacobus,  he  would  invent  new  words  and  oaths  to 
abuse  me  with,  and  Aunt  Angelica  would,  of  course, 
say  amen  to  all  he  says ; — and  there  are  others." 

"Yes,  there  is  Lord  Hyde." 

u  Curse  him !  But  I  intended  to  give  him  his 
letter — now  you  have  burnt  it." 

"  You  intended  nothing  of  the  kind,  Rem.  Go 
away  as  soon  as  you  can.  I  don't  want  to  know 
where  you  go  just  yet.  New  York  is  impossible, 
and  Boston  is  impossible.  Father  says  go  to  the 
frontier,  I  say  go  South.  What  you  have  done, 
you  have  done ;  and  it  cannot  be  undone ;  so  don't 
carry  it  about  with  you.  And  I  would  let  women 
alone — they  are  beyond  you — go  in  for  politics." 

That  day  Rem  lingered  with  his  sister,  seeing 
no  one  else ;  and  in  the  evening  shadows  he  slipped 
quietly  away.  He  was  very  wretched,  for  he  really 
loved  Mary  Darner,  and  his  disappointment  was 
bitterly  keen  and  humiliating.  Besides  which,  he 
felt  that  his  business  efforts  for  two  years  were  for- 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         323 

felted,  and  that  he  had  the  world  to  begin  over 
again.  Without  a  friend  to  wish  him  a  Godspeed 
the  wretched  man  went  on  board  the  Southern 
packet,  and  in  her  dim  lonely  cabin  sat  silent  and 
despondent,  while  she  fought  her  way  through 
swaying  curtains  of  rain  to  the  open  sea.  Its  great 
complaining  came  up  through  the  darkness  to  him, 
and  seemed  to  be  the  very  voice  of  the  miserable 
circumstances,  that  had  separated  and  estranged  his 
life  from  all  he  loved  and  desired. 

This  sudden  destruction  of  all  her  hopes  for  her 
brother  distressed  Arenta.  Her  own  marriage  had 
been  a  most  unfortunate  one,  but  its  misfortunes 
had  the  importance  of  national  tragedy.  She  had 
even  plucked  honour  to  herself  from  the  bloody 
tumbril  and  guillotine.  But  Rem's  matrimonial 
failure  had  not  one  redeeming  quality ;  it  was  alto 
gether  a  shameful  and  well-deserved  retribution. 
And  she  had  boasted  to  her  friends  not  a  little  of 
the  great  marriage  her  brother  was  soon  to  make, 
and  even  spoken  of  Miss  Damer,  as  if  a  sisterly 
affection  already  existed  between  them.  She  could 
anticipate  very  well  the  smiles  and  shrugs,  the  ex 
clamations  and  condolences  she  might  have  to  en 
counter,  and  she  was  not  pleased  with  her  brother 
for  putting  her  in  a  position  likely  to  make  her  dis 
agreeable  to  people. 

But  the  heart  of  her  anger  was  Cornelia — u  but 
for  that  girl,"  Rem  would  have  married  Mary 
Damer,  and  his  home  in  Boston  might  have  been 


324       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

full  of  opportunities  for  her,  as  well  as  a  desirable 
change  when  she  wearied  of  New  York.  Alto 
gether  it  was  a  hard  thing  for  her,  as  well  as  a 
dreadful  sorrow  for  Rem ;  and  she  could  not  think 
of  Cornelia  without  anger,  "Just  for  her,"  she  kept 
saying  as  she  dressed  herself  with  an  elaborate  sim 
plicity,  "  Just  for  her  !  Very  much  she  intruded 
herself  into  my  affairs;  my  marriage  was  her  op 
portunity  with  Lord  Hyde,  and  now  all  she  can  do 
is  to  break  up  poor  Rem's  marriage." 

When  Cornelia  entered  the  Van  Ariens  parlour 
Arenta  was  already  there.  She  was  dressed  in  a 
gown  of  the  blackest  and  softest  bombazine  and 
crape.  It  had  a  distinguishing  want  of  all  orna 
ment,  but  it  was  for  that  reason  singularly  effective 
against  her  delicate  complexion  and  pale  golden 
hair.  She  looked  offended,  and  hardly  spoke  to 
her  old  friend,  but  Cornelia  was  prepared  for  some 
exhibition  of  anger.  She  had  not  been  to  see 
Arenta  for  a  whole  week,  and  she  did  not  doubt 
she  had  been  well  aware  of  something  unusual  in 
progress.  But  that  Rem  had  accused  himself  did 
not  occur  to  her;  therefore  she  was  hardly  prepared 
for  the  passionate  accusations  with  which  Arenta 
assailed  her. 

"  I  think,"  she  said,  "  you  have  behaved  dis 
gracefully  to  poor  Rem !  You  would  not  have 
him  yourself,  and  yet  you  prevent  another  girl — 
whom  he  loves  far  better  than  ever  he  loved  you — 
from  marrying  him.  He  has  gone  away  4  out  of 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         325 

the  world,'  he  says,  and  indeed  I  should  not  won 
der  if  he  kills  himself.  It  is  most  certain  you  have 
done  all  you  can  to  drive  him  to  it." 

"Arenta!  I  have  no  idea  what  you  mean.  I 
have  not  seen  Rem,  nor  written  to  Rem,  for  more 
than  two  years." 

u  Very  likely,  but  you  have  written  about  him. 
You  wrote  to  Miss  Darner,  and  told  her  Rem  pur 
posely  kept  a  letter,  which  you  had  sent  to  Lord 
Hyde." 

"  I  did  not  write  to  Miss  Damer.  I  do  not 
know  the  lady.  But  Rem  did  keep  a  letter  that 
belonged  to  Lord  Hyde." 

Then  anger  gave  falsehood  the  bit  and  she  an 
swered,  "  Rem  did  not  keep  any  letter  that  belonged 
to  Lord  Hyde.  Prove  that  he  did  so,  before  you 
accuse  him.  You  cannot." 

"  I  unfortunately  directed  Lord  Hyde's  letter  to 
Rem,  and  Rem's  letter  to  Lord  Hyde.  Rem  knew 
that  he  had  Lord  Hyde's  letter,  and  he  should  have 
taken  it  at  once  to  him." 

"  Lord  Hyde  had  Rem's  letter ;  he  ought  to 
have  taken  it  at  once  to  Rem." 

u  There  was  not  a  word  in  Rem's  letter  to  iden 
tify  it  as  belonging  to  him." 

"  Then  you  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  write  love 
letters  that  would  do  for  any  man  that  received 
them.  A  poor  hand  you  must  be,  to  blunder  over 
two  love  letters.  I  have  had  eight,  and  ten,  at 
once  to  answer,  and  I  never  failed  to  distinguish 


326       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

each;  and  while  rivers  run  into  the  sea  I  never 
shall  misdirect  my  love  letters.  I  do  not  believe 
Rem  ever  got  your  letter,  and  I  will  not  believe  it, 
either  now  or  ever.  I  dare  be  bound,  Balthazar 
lost  it  on  the  way.  Prove  to  me  he  did  not." 

"  Oh,  indeed  !     I  think  you  know  better." 

"  Very  clever  is  Lord  Hyde  to  excuse  himself 
by  throwing  the  blame  on  poor  Rem.  Very  mean 
indeed  to  accuse  him  to  the  girl  he  was  going  to 
marry.  To  be  sure,  any  one  with  an  ounce  of 
common  sense  to  guide  them,  must  see  through 
the  whole  affair." 

"  Arenta,  I  have  the  most  firm  conviction  of 
Rem's  guilt,  and  the  greatest  concern  for  his  dis 
appointment.  I  assure  you  I  have." 

"  Kindly  reserve  your  concern,  Miss  Moran,  till 
Rem  Van  Ariens  asks  for  it.  As  for  his  guilt, 
there  is  no  guilt  in  question.  Even  supposing  that 
Rem  did  keep  Lord  Hyde's  letter,  what  then  ?  All 
things  are  fair  in  love  and  war.  Willie  Nicholls 
told  me  last  night,  he  would  keep  a  hundred  letters, 
if  he  thought  he  could  win  me  by  doing  so.  Any 
man  of  sense  would." 

"  All  I  blame  Rem  for  is " 

u  All  I  blame  Rem  for  is,  that  he  asked  you  to 
marry  him.  So  much  for  that !  I  hope  if  he 
meddles  with  women  again,  he  will  seek  an  all- 
round  common-sense  Dutch  girl,  who  will  know 
how  to  direct  her  letters — or  else  be  content  with 
one  lover." 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         327 

"  Arenta,  I  shall  go  now.  I  have  given  you  an 
opportunity  to  be  rude  and  unkind.  You  cannot 
expect  me  to  do  that  again." 

She  watched  Cornelia  across  the  street,  and  then 
turned  to  the  mirror,  and  wound  her  ringlets  over 
her  fingers.  "  I  don't  care,"  she  muttered.  u  It 
was  her  fault  to  begin  with.  She  tempted  Rem, 
and  he  fell.  Men  always  fall  when  women  tempt 
them ;  it  is  their  nature  to.  I  am  going  to  stand 
by  Rem,  right  or  wrong,  and  I  only  wish  I  could 
tell  Mary  Damer  what  I  think  of  her.  She  has 
another  lover,  of  course  she  has — or  she  would 
not  have  talked  about  her  '  honour  '  to  Rem." 

To  such  thoughts  she  was  raging,  when  Peter 
Van  Ariens  came  home  to  dinner,  and  she  could 
not  restrain  them.  He  listened  for  a  minute  or 
two,  and  then  struck  the  table  no  gentle  blow  — 

"  In  my  house,  Arenta,"  he  said,  "  I  will  have 
no  such  words.  What  you  think,  you  think ;  but 
such  thoughts  must  be  shut  close  in  your  mind. 
In  keeping  that  letter,  I  say  Rem  behaved  like  a 
scoundrel;  he  was  cruel,  and  he  was  a  coward. 
Because  he  is  my  son  I  will  not  excuse  him.  No 
indeed  !  For  that  very  reason,  the  more  angry  am 
I  at  such  a  deed.  Now  then,  he  shall  acknowledge 
to  George  Hyde  and  Cornelia  Moran  the  wrong 
he  did  them,  ere  in  my  home  and  my  heart,  he 
rights  himself." 

"  Is  Cornelia  going  to  be  married  ?  " 

u  That  is  what  I  hear." 


328       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

"To  Lord  Hyde?" 

"  That  also,  is  what  I  hear." 

"  Well,  as  I  am  in  mourning,  I  cannot  go  to  the 
wedding  ;  so  then  I  am  delighted  to  have  told  her 
a  little  of  my  mind." 

"  It  is  a  great  marriage  for  the  Doctor's  daugh 
ter;  a  countess  she  will  be." 

"And  a  marquise  I  am.  And  will  you  please 
say,  if  either  countess  or  marquise  is  better  than 
mistress  or  madame  ?  Thank  all  the  powers  that 
be !  I  have  learned  the  value  of  a  title,  and  I 
shall  change  marquise  for  mistress,  as  soon  as  I 
can  do  so." 

"  If  always  you  had  thought  thus,  a  great  deal 
of  sorrow  we  had  both  been  spared." 

"  Well,  then,  a  girl  cannot  get  her  share  of  wis 
dom,  till  she  comes  to  it.  After  all,  I  am  now 
sorry  I  have  quarrelled  with  Cornelia.  In  New 
York  and  Philadelphia  she  will  be  a  great 
woman." 

"  To  take  offence  is  a  great  folly,  and  to  give 
offence  is  a  great  folly — I  know  not  which  is  the 
greater,  Arenta." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  father,"  she  answered,  "  if  I  am 
hurt  and  angry,  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  say  so. 
Anger  that  is  hidden  cannot  be  gratified;  and  if 
people  use  me  badly,  it  is  my  way  to  tell  them  I 
am  aware  of  it.  One  may  be  obliged  to  eat  brown 
bread,  but  I,  for  one,  will  say  it  is  brown  bread, 
and  not  white." 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"          329 

"  Your  own  way  you  will  take,  until  into  some 
great  trouble  you  stumble." 

u  And  then  my  own  way  I  shall  take,  until  out 
of  it  I  stumble.*' 

"  I  have  told  Rem  what  he  must  do.  Like  a 
man  he  must  say,  c  I  did  wrong,  and  I  am  sorry  for 
it,'  and  so  well  I  think  of  those  he  has  wronged,  as 
to  be  sure  they  will  answer,  '  It  is  forgiven.  ' 

"  And  forgotten." 

"  That  is  different.  To  forgive  freely,  is  what 
we  owe  to  our  enemy  ;  to  forget  not,  is  what  we 
owe  to  ourselves." 

"  But  if  Rem's  fault  is  forgiven,  and  not  for 
gotten,  what  good  will  it  do  him  ?  I  have  seen 
that  every  one  forgives  much  in  themselves  that 
they  find  unpardonable  in  other  people." 

"  In  so  far,  Arenta,  we  are  all  at  fault." 

"  I  think  it  is  cruel,  father,  to  ask  Rem  to  speak 
truth  to  his  own  injury.  Even  the  law  is  kinder 
than  you,  it  asks  no  man  to  accuse  himself." 

"  Right  wrongs  no  man.  Till  others  move  in 
this  matter,  you  be  quiet.  If  you  talk,  evil  words 
you  will  say  ;  and  mind  this,  Arenta,  the  evil  that 
comes  out  of  your  lips,  into  your  own  bosom  will 
fall.  All  my  life  I  have  seen  this." 

But  Arenta  could  not  be  quiet.  She  would  sow 
thorns,  though  she  had  to  walk  unshod ;  and  her 
father's  advice  moved  her  no  more  than  a  breath 
moves  a  mountain.  In  the  same  afternoon  she  saw 
Madame  Jacobus  going  to  Doctor  Moran's,  and  the 


330       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

hour  she  remained  there,  was  full  of  misery  to 
her  impetuous  self-adoring  heart.  She  was  sure 
they  were  talking  of  Rem  and  herself;  and  as  she 
had  all  their  conversation  to  imagine,  she  came  to 
conclusions  in  accord  with  her  suspicions. 

But  she  met  her  aunt  at  the  door  and  brought 
her  eagerly  into  the  parlour.  She  had  had  no  visitors 
that  day,  and  was  bored  and  restless  and  longing 
for  conversation.  u  I  saw  you  go  to  the  Doctor's 
an  hour  ago,  aunt,"  she  said.  "  I  hope  the  Cap 
tain  is  well." 

"Jacobus  is  quite  well,  thank  God  and  Doctor 
Moran — and  Cornelia.  I  have  been  looking  at 
some  of  her  wedding  gowns.  A  girl  so  happy,  and 
who  deserves  to  be  so  happy,  I  never  saw.  What 
a  darling  she  is  !  " 

"  It  is  now  the  fashion  to  rave  about  her.  I 
suppose  they  found  time  enough  to  abuse  poor 
Rem.  And  you  could  listen  to  them  !  I  would 
not  have  done  so  !  No  !  not  if  listening  had  meant 
salvation  for  the  whole  Moran  family." 

"  You  are  a  remarkably  foolish  young  woman. 
They  never  named  Rem.  People  so  happy,  do  not 
remember  the  bringer  of  sorrow.  He  has  been 
shut  out — in  the  darkness  and  cold.  But  I  heard 
from  Madame  Van  Heemskirk  why  Cornelia  and 
that  delightful  young  man  were  not  married  two 
years  ago.  I  am  ashamed  of  Rem.  I  can  never 
forgive  him.  He  is  a  disgrace  to  the  family.  And 
that  is  why  I  came  here  to-day.  I  wish  you  to 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         331 

make  Rem  understand  that  he  must  not  come  near 
his  Uncle  Jacobus.  When  Jacobus  is  angry,  he 
will  call  heaven  and  earth  and  hell  to  help  him 
speak  his  mind,  and  I  have  nearly  cured  him  of  a 
habit  which  is  so  distressing  to  me,  and  such  a 
great  wrong  to  his  own  soul.  The  very  sight  of 
Rem  would  break  every  barrier  down,  and  let  a 
flood  of  words  loose,  that  would  make  him  suffer 
afterwards.  I  will  not  have  Jacobus  led  into  such 
temptation.  I  have  not  heard  an  oath  from  him 
for  six  months." 

"  I  suppose  you  would  never  forgive  Jacobus, 
if  you  did  hear  one  ?  " 

"  That  is  another  matter.  I  hope  I  have  a  heart 
to  forgive  whatever  Jacobus  does,  or  says — he  is 
my  husband." 

"  It  is  then  less  wicked  to  blaspheme  Almighty 
God,  than  to  keep  one  of  Lord  Hyde's  love  letters. 
One  fault  may  be  forgiven,  the  other  is  unpardon 
able.  Dear  me !  how  religiously  ignorant  I  am. 
As  for  my  uncle  swearing — and  the  passions  that 
thus  express  themselves — everybody  knows  that 
anything  that  distantly  resembles  good  temper, 
will  suit  Captain  Jacobus." 

u  You  look  extremely  handsome  when  you  are 
scornful,  Arenta ;  but  it  is  not  worth  while  wasting 
your  charms  on  me.  I  am  doing  what  I  can  to 
help  Jacobus  to  keep  his  tongue  clean,  and  I  will 
not  have  Rem  lead  him  into  temptation.  As  for 
Rem,  he  is  guilty  of  a  great  wrong ;  and  he  must 


The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

now  do  what  his  father  told  him  to  do — work  day 
and  night,  as  men  work,  when  a  bridge  is  broken 
down.  The  ruin  must  be  got  out  of  the  way,  and 
the  bridge  rebuilt,  then  it  will  be  possible  to  open 
some  pleasant  and  profitable  traffic  with  human  be 
ings  again — not  to  speak  of  heaven." 

"  You  are  right — not  to  speak  of  heaven.  I 
think  heaven  would  be  more  charitable.  Rem  will 
not  trouble  Captain  Jacobus.  For  my  part  I  think 
a  man  that  cannot  bear  temptation  is  very  poorly 
reformed.  If  my  uncle  could  see  Rem,  and  yet 
keep  his  big  and  little  oaths  under  bonds,  I  should 
believe  in  his  clean  tongue." 

u  Arenta,  you  are  tormenting  yourself  with  an 
ger  and  ill-will,  and  above  all  with  jealousy.  In 
this  way  you  are  going  to  miss  a  deal  of  pleasure.  I 
advise  you  not  to  quarrel  with  Cornelia.  She  will 
be  a  great  resource.  I  myself  am  looking  forward 
to  the  delightful  change  Jacobus  may  have  at 
Hyde  Manor.  It  will  make  a  new  life  for  him, 
and  also  for  me.  This  afternoon  something  is 
vexing  you.  I  shall  take  no  offence.  You  will 
regret  your  bad  temper  to-morrow." 

To-morrow  Arenta  did  regret ;  but  people  do 
not  always  say  they  are  sorry,  when  they  feel  so. 
She  sat  in  the  shadow  of  her  window  curtains  and 
watched  the  almost  constant  stream  of  visitors,  and 
messengers,  and  tradespeople  at  Doctor  Moran's 
house  ;  and  she  longed  to  have  her  hands  among 
the  lovely  things,  and  to  give  her  opinion  about  the 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         333 

delightful  events  sure  to  make  the  next  few  weeks 
full  of  interest  and  pleasure.  And  after  she  had 
received  a  letter  from  Rem,  she  resolved  to  humble 
herself  that  she  might  be  exalted. 

"  Rem  is  already  fortunate,  and  I  can't  help  him 
by  righting  his  battle.  Forgetfulness,  is  the  word. 
For  this  wrong  can  have  no  victory,  and  to  be  for 
gotten,  is  the  only  hope  for  it.  Beside,  Cornelia 
had  her  full  share  in  my  happiness,  and  I  will  not 
let  myself  be  defrauded  of  my  share  in  her  happi 
ness — not  for  a  few  words — no !  certainly  not." 

This  reflection  a  few  times  reiterated  resulted  in 
the  following  note  — 

MY  DEAR  CORNELIA  : 

I  want  to  say  so  much,  that  I  cannot  say 
anything  but — forgive  me.  I  am  shaken  to  pieces 
by  my  dreadful  sufferings,  and  sometimes,  I  do  not 
know  what  I  say,  even  to  those  I  love.  Blame 
my  sad  fortune  for  my  bad  words,  and  tell  me  you 
long  to  forgive  me,  as  I  long  to  be  forgiven. 

Your  ARENTA. 

"That  will  be  sufficient,"  she  reflected;  "and 
after  all,  Cornelia  is  a  sweet  girl.  I  am  her  first 
and  dearest  friend,  and  I  am  determined  to  keep  my 
place.  It  has  made  me  very  angry  to  see  those 
Van  Dien  girls,  and  those  Sherman  girls,  running 
in  and  out  of  the  Moran  house  as  if  they  owned 
Cornelia.  Well  then,  if  I  have  had  to  eat  humble 
pie,  I  have  had  my  say,  and  that  takes  the  bitter 


334       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

taste  out  of  my  mouth — and  a  sensible  woman 
must  look  to  her  future.  I  dare  warrant,  Cornelia 
is  now  answering  my  letter.  I  dare  warrant,  she 
will  forgive  me  very  sweetly." 

She  spent  half-an-hour  in  such  reflections,  and 
then  Cornelia  entered  with  a  smiling  face.  She 
would  not  permit  Arenta  to  say  another  word  of 
regret ;  she  stifled  all  her  self-reproaches  in  an  em 
brace,  and  she  took  her  back  with  her  to  her  own 
home.  And  no  further  repentance  embarrassed 
Arenta.  She  put  her  ready  wit,  and  her  clever 
hands  to  a  score  of  belated  things;  and  snubbed 
and  contradicted  the  Van  Dien  and  Sherman  girls 
into  a  respectful  obedience  to  her  earlier  friendship, 
and  wider  experience.  Everything  that  she  di 
rected,  or  took  charge  of,  went  with  an  unmis 
takable  vigour  to  completion;  and  even  Madame 
Van  Heemskirk  was  delighted  with  her  ability,  and 
grateful  for  her  assistance. 

"  The  poor  Arenta  !  "  she  said  to  Mrs.  Moran  ; 
"  very  helpful  she  is  to  us,  and  for  her  brother's 
fault  she  is  not  to  blame.  Wrong  it  would  be  to 
visit  it  on  her." 

And  Arenta  not  only  felt  this  gracious  justice  for 
herself,  she  looked  much  further  forward,  for  she 
said  to  her  father,  "  It  is  really  for  Rem's  sake  I 
am  so  obliging.  By  and  by  people  will  say  '  there 
is  no  truth  in  that  letter  story.  The  Marquise  is 
the  friend  of  Lady  Hyde;  they  are  like  clasped 
hands,  and  that  could  not  be  so,  if  Rem  Van 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"          335 

Ariens  had  done  such  a  dreadful  thing.  It  is  all 
nonsense.'  And  if  I  hear  a  word  about  it,  I  shall 
know  how  to  smile,  and  lift  my  shoulders,  and  kill 
suspicion  with  contempt.  Yes,  for  Rem's  sake,  I 
have  done  the  best  thing." 

So  happily  the  time  went  on,  that  it  appeared 
wonderful  when  Christmas  was  close  at  hand. 
Every  preparation  was  then  complete.  The 
Manor  House  was  a  very  picture  of  splendid  com 
fort,  and  day  by  day  Cornelia's  exquisite  wardrobe 
came  nearer  to  perfection.  It  was  a  very  joy  to  go 
into  the  Moran  house.  The  mother,  with  a  happy 
light  upon  her  face,  went  to-and-fro  with  that 
habitual  sweet  serenity,  which  kept  the  temperature 
of  expectant  pleasure  at  a  degree  not  too  exhaust 
ing  for  continuance.  The  doctor  was  so  satisfied 
with  affairs,  that  he  was  often  heard  timing  his 
firm,  strong  steps  to  snatches  of  long  forgotten 
military  songs ;  and  Cornelia,  knowing  her  lover 
was  every  day  coming  nearer  and  nearer,  was  just 
as  happy  as  a  girl  loving  and  well  beloved,  ought 
to  be.  Sorrow  was  all  behind  her,  and  a  great  joy 
was  coming  to  meet  her.  Until  mortal  love  should 
become  immortal,  she  could  hope  for  no  sweeter 
interlude  in  life. 

Her  beauty  had  increased  wonderfully ;  hope 
had  more  than  renewed  her  youth,  and  confident 
love  had  given  to  her  face  and  form,  a  splendour 
of  colour  and  expression,  that  captivated  every 
body  ;  though  why,  or  how,  they  never  asked 


336       The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane 

— she  charmed,  because  she  charmed.  She  was 
the  love,  the  honey,  the  milk  of  sweetest  human 
nature. 

One  day  the  little  bevy  of  feminine  councillors 
looked  at  their  work,  and  pronounced  all  beautiful, 
and  all  finished ;  and  then  there  was  a  lull  in  the 
busy  household,  and  then  every  one  was  conscious 
of  being  a  little  weary  ;  and  every  one  also  felt,  that  it 
would  be  well  to  let  heart,  and  brain,  and  fingers, 
and  feet  rest.  In  a  few  days  there  would  likely  be 
another  English  letter,  and  they  could  then  form 
some  idea  as  to  when  Lord  Hyde  would  arrive. 
The  last  letter  received  from  him  had  been  written 
in  London,  and  the  ship  in  which  he  was  to  sail, 
was  taking  on  her  cargo,  while  he  impatiently 
waited  at  his  hotel  for  notice  of  her  being  ready  to 
lift  her  anchor.  The  doctor  thought  it  highly 
probable  Hyde  would  follow  this  letter  in  a  week, 
or  perhaps  less. 

During  this  restful  interval,  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Moran  drove  out  one  afternoon  to  Hyde  Manor 
House.  A  message  from  Madame  Van  Heems- 
kirk  asked  this  favour  from  them  ;  she  wished 
naturally  that  they  should  see  how  exquisitely 
beautiful  and  comfortable  was  the  home,  which  her 
Joris  had  trusted  her  to  prepare  for  his  bride.  But 
she  did  not  wish  Cornelia  to  see  it,  until  the  bride 
groom  himself  took  her  across  its  threshold.  u  An 
old  woman's  fancy  it  is,"  she  said  to  Mrs. 
Moran ;  "  but  no  harm  is  there  in  it,  and  not  much 


"Hush!    Love  is  Here!"         337 

do  I  like  women  who  bustle  about  their  houses, 
and  have  no  fancies  at  all." 

"  Nor  I,"  answered  Mrs.  Moran  with  a  merry 
little  laugh.  "  Do  you  know,  that  I  told  John  to 
buy  my  wedding  ring  too  wide,  because  I  often 
heard  my  mother  say  that  a  tight  wedding  ring 
was  unlucky."  Then  both  women  smiled,  and 
began  delightedly  to  look  over  together  the  stores 
of  fine  linen  and  damask,  which  the  mother  of 
Joris  had  laid  up  for  her  son's  use. 

It  was  a  charming  visit,  and  the  sweet  pause  in 
the  vivid  life  of  the  past  few  weeks,  was  equally 
charming  to  Cornelia.  She  rested  in  her  room  till 
the  short  daylight  ended ;  then  she  went  to  the 
parlour  and  drank  a  cup  of  tea,  and  closed  the  cur 
tains,  and  sat  down  by  the  hearth  to  wait  for  her 
father  and  mother.  It  was  likely  they  would  be  a 
little  late,  but  the  moon  was  full  and  the  sleighing 
perfect,  and  then  she  was  sure  they  would  have  so 
much  to  tell  her,  when  they  did  reach  home. 

So  still  was  the  house,  so  still  was  the  little 
street,  that  she  easily  went  to  the  land  of  reverie, 
and  lost  herself  there.  She  thought  over  again  all 
her  life  with  her  lover;  recalled  his  sweet  spirit,  his 
loyal  affection,  his  handsome  face,  and  enchanting 
manner.  "  Heaven  has  made  me  so  fortunate," 
she  thought,  "  and  now  my  fortune  has  arrived  at 
my  wishes.  Even  his  delay  is  sweet.  I  desire  to 
think  of  him,  until  all  other  thoughts  are  forgotten  J 
Oh,  what  lover  could  be  loved  as  I  love  him  !  " 


338       The  Maid  of   Maiden  Lane 

Then  with  a  soft  but  quick  movement  the  door 
flew  open,  she  lifted  her  eyes,  to  fill  them  with 
love's  very  image  and  vesture ;  and  with  a  cry  of 
joy  flew  to  meet  the  bliss  so  long  afar,  but  now  so 
near.  "  O  lovely  and  beloved  !  O  my  love  !  " 
Hyde  cried,  and  then  there  was  a  twofold  silence ; 
the  very  ecstasy  that  no  mortal  words  can  utter. 
The  sacred  hour  for  which  all  their  lives  had 
longed,  was  at  last  dropt  down  to  them  from 
heaven.  Between  their  kisses  they  spoke  of  things 
remembered,  and  of  things  to  be,  leaning  to  each 
other  in  visible  sweetness,  while 

"  Love  breathed  in  sighs  and  silences 
Through  two  blent  souls,  one  rapturous  undersong." 


Tb     /4IO 


